Agave 'Whale's Tongue'
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Agave ovatifolia
The Agave ovatifolia, affectionately known as whale's tongue agave, is a beautiful succulent that showcases a charming rosette shape. Native to the picturesque Nuevo Leon region of the Chihuahuan Desert in northern Mexico, it thrives at elevations ranging from 3,700 to 7,000 feet. This lovely plant boasts stunning blue-gray evergreen leaves and occasionally produces delightful flowering spikes. Its large, dense, and symmetrical rosette features thick, rigid, smooth, and slightly cupped leaves, each adorned with graceful grey, curved spines along the edges and a sharp terminal spine. Uniquely, this agave species stands alone without offsets, typically taking an impressive 10 to 20 years for each rosette to bloom. When it finally does, a spectacular flowering stalk rises from the rosette, soaring up to 14 feet and showcasing 15-20 side branches enriched with lovely yellow-green flower clusters. In its natural habitat, you can witness this enchanting bloom during the summer months of June to August.
In terms of care, this resilient plant is estimated to thrive in hardiness zones 7-11. It loves sandy or gritty, dry to dry-medium moisture soil that drains well and basks in full sunlight. Proper drainage is crucial to prevent any risk of root rot. One of the remarkable traits of this plant is its ability to endure dry soils and even drought conditions, while also exhibiting good winter hardiness, reportedly withstanding temperatures as low as 0°F (USDA Zone 7). Just remember, it prefers "dry cold" rather than "wet cold" for optimal health.
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
Spring Shipping:
Orders are shipped within 7-10 business days. We will email you if there are expected delays.
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.
