Agave xylonocantha (Saw Leaf agave) – A single or occasionally clumping agave with open rosettes to 3 feet tall by 4 feet wide with only a sparse number of pale grey-green lanceolate leaves that have a lighter center stripe and broad light-colored almost papery irregularly-shaped spines on broad teats that run together along the leaf margin.
Plant in full sun and irrigate occasionally to infrequently. Hardy to the low to mid 20's°F.
This close relative of Agave lophantha comes from the drier limestone slopes and valleys on the desert side of the Sierra Madre Orientale at elevations about 3,000 feet in the Mexican States of Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi and Hidalgo. The specific epithet 'xylonocantha' means "wood spines" in a fitting reference to the broad wood colored spines. One of the previous used names of this plant, Agave carchariodonta, was in reference to the teeth (odonta) of the Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias. Our plants originally from Mountain States Wholesale Nursery. We grew this interesting plant from 2009 until 2013.
The information about Agave xylonacantha that is displayed on this web page is based on research conducted in our nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We will also include observations made about this plant as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens that we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We also incorporate comments that we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they share cultural information that aids others growing this plant.
Please note that after 46 years in business, San Marcos Growers will be discontinuing nursery operations by the end of 2025 and the property will be developed for affordable housing.
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