Plant in full sun to light shade (requires shade in inland hot climates) in a well-drained soil. Little irrigation is required and regular summer irrigation is harmful to this species so best to avoid it. The species has proven hardy to 25° F and others note that some damage to this plant can occur at around 23° F and that it becomes more extensive at any temperatures below 18° F. It is is a very attractive succulent plant and the species is the only native California agave that comes from our coastal mediterranean climate. For more information about this plant see also our listing for the Agave shawii.

We received our first stock plant of this cultivar from John Bleck in 2009 who told us it had been collected by David Vargas at Punta Baja near El Rozario in Baja California in the late 80s. When John first received the plant its variegation was not initially that vivid but he worked to only select pups with a stronger variegated margins before giving it to us. 

The information about Agave shawii 'Marginata' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.