Lechuguilla
Agave lechuguilla
- Native to:
- Mexico, United States
Stan Shebs ( talk · contribs )
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Genus:
- Agave
- Species:
- Agave lechuguilla
- USDA Symbol:
- AGLE
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 45 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, purple, red
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Estelle's giant skipper (Agathymus estellae), Neumoegen's giant skipper (Agathymus neumoegeni)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Hummingbirds: Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bats, hummingbirds, nocturnal moths
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Leaves are killed by fire but plants typically resprout from underground stem if fire is not too intense. Fire increases flowering in populations.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry conditions preferred
- Notes:
- native to arid desert regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily at warm temperatures (70-85°F). Fresh seed shows better germination rates than stored seed.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI