Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Asparagaceae

Genus:

Agave

Species:

Agave shawii

USDA Symbol:

AGSH

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Forb/herb , Shrub , Subshrub

Height:

120 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

may,jun,jul

Bloom Colors:

yellow, red

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)

Caterpillars:

★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Hummingbirds:

★☆☆☆☆ Documented hummingbird visits (GBIF)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

hummingbirds, bees, bats

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Rosettes typically killed by fire but may resprout from underground rhizomes. Post-fire recovery through offsets and seedling establishment.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

Native to coastal areas with sandy soils

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

None required

Germination Time:

14–60 days

Notes:

Seeds germinate readily at warm temperatures (70-80°F). Light improves germination rates.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI