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."
