Encyclopedia · Asparagaceae · Agave attenuata
Agave attenuata (Agave attenuata)
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Agave attenuata
Agave · Asparagaceae

Agave attenuata, commonly called the foxtail or lion's tail agave or the swan's neck agave, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae (the asparaguses, agaves and yuccas). Sometimes called the soft-leaf or soft-leaved agave, the aforementioned animal-related names are a nod to the appearance of the plant's inflorescence, which—after years, generally—rises slightly before gravity brings it back down, giving the bloom a curved, "swan"-like or "foxtail" look.

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Classification

Genus
Agave
Family
Asparagaceae
Climate
temperate, subtropical

Agave attenuata belongs to the Agave genus within the Asparagaceae family. It performs reliably across temperate, subtropical zones in our experience.

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Cultivation

Care sheet.

Water
Very low
Light
Full sun
Soil
Free-draining
Growth rate
Slow
Mature size
Rosette / clumping
Pest & disease notes

Virtually pest-free. Avoid heavy clay soils and overwatering — root rot is the main risk.

Propagation

Offsets (pups) removed from base of parent plant.

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Companions

Species we plant alongside Agave attenuata.

Century Plant (Agave americana)
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Agave americana

Century Plant

Agave geminiflora
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Agave geminiflora

Agave geminiflora

Agave gypsophilia (Agave gypsophilia)
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Agave gypsophilia

Agave gypsophilia

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Further reading

  1. 01
    Agave attenuata taxon photographAtlas of Living Australia image service