Is Agave utahensis a succulent?
On a trip to any big box store, large nursery, or even a grocery store, you’re going to see many different succulent varieties. Mostly small, windowsill or desktop-sized, and cute, if a little spikey sometimes. And then, perhaps in another section of the nursery, there will be an agave section, with big, very pointy, landscaping agaves.
And you won’t find it in any big box, grocery store, and not many nurseries, but Agave utahensis fits better for many collectors in the first succulent category. Although technically, all agave are succulents.
Is Agave utahensis a succulent?
A succulent is any plant with thickened, fleshy parts adapted to store water. Some plants that evolve to grow in arid environments, as agave have, use their leaves, stems and roots to store water, as agave do. All agave species, including Agave utahensis, meet this definition. So yes, agaves, Agave utahensis included, are definitely succulent plants. (Eggli, U., & Hartmann, H. E. K. (2002). Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants)
The name "succulent" comes from the Latin "sucus," meaning juice or sap, referring to the water-storing capacity of these plants. Succulent plants belong to a bunch of different plant families, including Crassulaceae, Cactaceae, Aizoaceae, and yes, Agavaceae, among others.
Many (though not all) succulents also utilize a specialized photosynthetic pathway called Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM), which allows desert plants like agave to keep their stoma closed during the day, only opening them at night to reduce evaporative moisture loss. And yes, Agave utahensis is a CAM plant.
One of the most beloved succulent characteristics is the pale, white, blue, and/or gray colors seen after the plants develop hairy or waxy coatings. In nature, these protect the plants from harsh UV rays. Agave utahensis, particularly Agave utahensis subsp. nevdadensis, can produce gorgeous, glaucous, white/blue leaves.
Should I treat Agave utahensis as a succulent?
The kind of care Agave utahensis really thrives with has much more in common with succulent plant care than with cactus care. While agave utahensis do grow next to lots of cactus species, it is, as noted above, a succulent. The most important part of this distinction is that utahensis wants water, a lot more water than your cacti probably do. As long as it dries out completely between waterings, the more water you give it, the better.
Light is important, especially if you plan to grow it in your house, as you would any other indoor succulent. Unless you have an extremely sunny window situation, plan to add some extra lighting if you want your indoor agave utahensis to look as good as it can. I grow all my best-looking plants indoors, under LED lighting, so it’s absolutely possible, but plan for extra lighting.
Agave utahensis wants a well-draining soil mix. I recommend something like 25%-50% organic (worm castings, store-bought soil mix, etc) and the rest inorganic material like lava, pumice, turface, etc. This is probably more inorganic material than what you’d find around in a box store planter as succulent soil, but isn’t bad advice even for your other, non-agave, succulents. The drier your climate, the more inorganic mix you can use to help hold water.
Common indoor house temperatures will be fine for Agave utahensis year-round, so with a little thought about lighting, it can easily be grown as an indoor houseplant, just like your favorite succulent.
