Agave isthmensisis a small, offsetting Agave with the individual rosettes reaching up to 1 foot (30 cm) tall by an equal width, with up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) long and up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) wide powder-gray-blue ovate leaves that narrow towards the base and are at their widest near the tip. The leaves have a slightly gritty texture and margins that have shallow rounded lobes with prominent dark reddish-brown teeth and a terminal spine. The flower stalk can reach up to 7 feet (2.1 m) tall with short side branches bearing yellow flowers.

Agave can be exceptional houseplants, depending on which one you buy. There are about 450 species of Agave, including the famous Century Plant (which, for the record, does flower more often than once a century). As desert plants, Agave appreciate direct, abundant sunlight and light water. They are slow-growing, so even specimens that grow into large plants can be kept inside for a period of time before they outgrow the room.

Agave are not very “people friendly” their sap tends to be irritating and most of them feature truly intimidating spines on their leaves that make brushing against them a painful adventure.

Growing Conditions

Light: Bright sunlight year-round. Consider moving your plants outside during the summer, where they can luxuriate in full sunlight, and make sure they get plenty of winter light.
Water: In spring, water with warm water just as the soil begins to dry out. Don’t let the soil become completely dry. In the winter and fall, when growth is suspended, water very lightly.
Temperature: They prefer warm spring and summer temperatures (70ºF/21ºC – 90ºF/32ºC) and cooler fall and winter temps (50ºF/10ºC – 60ºF/15ºC).
Soil: Use standard succulent or cacti potting mix.
Fertilizer: Feed in spring and summer; do not feed during fall and winter.