Agave 'Whale's Tongue'
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Agave ovatifolia
The Agave ovatifolia, also known as whale's tongue agave, is a succulent plant that forms a rosette and is native to the Nuevo Leon region of the Chihuahuan Desert in northern Mexico. It typically grows at elevations between 3,700 and 7,000 feet. This plant is characterized by its blue-gray evergreen leaves and occasional flowering spikes. It forms a large, dense, symmetrical rosette with thick, rigid, smooth, and slightly cupped leaves. Each leaf is covered with grey, curved spines throughout the margins and has a sharp terminal spine. Unlike some other agave species, this one does not produce offsets and is solitary. It usually takes between 10 and 20 years for each rosette to flower. When it does, a giant flowering stalk emerges from the rosette, reaching up to 14 feet tall and producing 15-20 side branches with yellow-green flower clusters. In its native habitat, the plant blooms in summer (June - August).
The estimated hardiness zone for this plant is 7-11. It thrives in sandy/gritty, dry to dry-medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun. Sharp drainage in the soil is essential to prevent root rot. The plant can tolerate dry soils and drought and surprisingly has good winter hardiness, reportedly surviving temperatures as low as 0°F (USDA Zone 7). However, cold temperatures must be "dry cold" rather than "wet cold."
Height: 2’-3'
Spread 3’-4’
Bloom: June-August
Light: Full Sun
Water: Low, Moderate
Zone: 7, 8, 9, 10
Origin: Mexico
Deer Resistant: Yes
Winter Shipping: We will continue to ship throughout winter. If you prefer, we are happy to hold your order until spring; please include that request in your shipping notes.
When you order plants from our nursery, you can expect them to arrive in the best possible condition. Our team carefully packs each order using sturdy, biodegradable packaging materials.
Your plants' appearance may vary depending on the season and their current growth stage. We may cut back the leafy growth of some plants to prepare them for shipment and transplanting.
5 Gallon and Up: Any plant purchased to ship over 5 Gallons will be shipped bare root. This means we will remove the plant from its original pot, remove the soil surrounding the roots, and wrap the roots with a biodegradable plastic bag. This reduces weight and the likelihood of damage during shipping.
Once your plants arrive, it is essential to plant them as soon as possible. This will help them rebound and thrive. If you cannot plant immediately, water regularly and keep the roots off heat-conducting surfaces.
Newly transplanted plants often require more water until their roots are well established. Plan to water them 1-3 times weekly for the first few months.
