Agave xylonacantha

Agave xylonacantha is a plant species native to Hidalgo, Tamaulipas, Guanajuato and Queretaro in Mexico, but commonly cultivated as an ornamental on other regions. A. xylonacantha is an easy-to-grow member of the genus Agave.^[4] The specific epithet 'xylonacantha' means "wood spines".^[5]

Agave xylonacantha
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Secure  (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asparagaceae
Subfamily:	Agavoideae
Genus:	Agave
Species:	A. xylonacantha
Binomial name
Agave xylonacantha Salm-Dyck
Synonyms[3]
Agave amurensis Jacobi Agave carchariodonta Pamp. Agave heteracantha var. splendens (Jacobi) A.Terracc. Agave hybrida Verschaff. Agave kochii Jacobi Agave perbella Baker Agave splendens Jacobi Agave univittata var. carchariodonta (Pamp.) Breitung Agave vanderdonckii Baker

Description

Agave xylonacantha produces a basal rosette of up to 180 cm (6 feet) in diameter. Leaves are sword-shaped, up to 90 cm (3 feet) long and 7.5 cm (3 inches) across, each ending in a spine about 4– 5 cm (1.6-2 inches) long. Margins of the leaves have spines up to 3 cm (1.2 inches) across. This gives the margins an undulating appearance. Flowering stalks can reach a height of 3.3 m (11 feet). Flowers are up to 3.5 cm (1.5 inches) in diameter with greenish tepals.^[6][7][8]

Cultivars include:

• 'Frostbite': the leaf's edges are a creamy yellow^[9]
• 'Blue': the leaves are blue-green^[10]