Agave

desert plants · succulents · Americas

Built for drought. Agave plants have thick, fleshy leaves that store water, allowing them to survive in hot, dry deserts where other plants would shrivel up and die.

Rosette superstars. The leaves grow in a beautiful circular pattern called a rosette, spreading outward like a crown from the center of the plant.

Patient bloomers. Some agave plants wait 10, 20, or even 40 years before finally growing a tall flower stalk, blooming once spectacularly, and then dying.

Makes tequila. The blue agave plant's heart, called the pina, is fermented to create tequila, a famous drink from Mexico.

Super strong leaves. Agave leaves have tough fibers that people have used for thousands of years to make rope, fabric, and even paper.