Pronounciation: A-GAV-e ZEE-bra

Hardiness zones
Sunset 12-24
USDA 9-11

Landscape Use: Desert gardens borders, rock gardens, large containers, textural and sculptural accent, desert speciemen gardens, visually compelling foliar accent in xeric landscape designs where whitish grey foliage is wanted.

Form & Character: Stout, stiff, imposing, intersting, dry.

Growth Habit: Evergreen, succulent and fibrous herbaceous perennial, monocarpic, slow to moderate growth to 3 to 4 feet with equal spread, leaves strongly whorled, grows occassional basal offshoots.

Foliage/Texture: Stout, recurved, cupped, grayish leaves to 12 to 18 inches long with distinct variably colored whitish to dark red to black recurved spines; coarse texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Yellow flowers on a stout 10 to 15 foot stalk after many years, fruits rare.

Seasonal Color: None

Temperature: Tolerant

Light: Full sun

Soil: Tolerant, but in Phoenix grows best in a well-drained soil.

Watering: Little to none once established. Give occassional summer water during years when summer monsoon rains are inconsistent and sparse.

Pruning: None

Propagation: Seed, division of basal offshoots.

Disease and Pests: None

Additional comments: Zebra agave is a rather stout accent agave whose textural contrast demands attention. Ergo, use with descretion in the desert or xeric landscapes. Zebra agave is not people friendly. Avoid planting too close to walkways of other areas of human traffic.