Often called whale's tongue agave, Agave ovatifolia is a rosette-forming succulent native to northern Mexico's Nuevo Leon region of the Chihuahuan Desert. It grows at elevations between 3,700 and 7,000 feet. It is most notable for its blue-gray evergreen leaves and infrequent flowering spikes. It forms a large, dense, symmetrical, blue-gray rosette from thick, rigid, smooth, and slightly cupped leaves. Over time, a rosette will grow three feet tall and four feet wide. Besides a sharp terminal spine, each leaf is covered with grey, curved spines throughout the margins. Unlike other species, this one is solitary and does not produce offsets. It usually takes between 10 and 20 years for each rosette to flower. One giant flowering stalk (to 14' tall) will emerge from the rosette, producing 15-20 side branches, with yellow-green flower clusters on each side branch. Flowers bloom in their native habitat in summer (June - August).
Estimated hardiness zone 7-11. Growth occurs best in sandy/gritty, dry to dry-medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun. It is essential to have sharp drainage in the soil. Poorly-drained soils inevitably lead to root rot. Tolerates dry soils and drought—surprisingly good winter hardiness for this succulent. Plants have reportedly survived winters with temperatures as low as 0°F (USDA Zone 7), but cold temperatures should be "dry cold" as opposed to "wet cold."
