Agave lechuguilla aka Tampico Fiber

Agave lechuguilla is an evergreen succulent in the Asparagaceae family. Common names include lechuguilla, shin dagger, and tula ixtle. Its native range runs from southern New Mexico to central Mexico. It also grows in Texas, across the Chihuahuan Desert. This long-lived perennial grows in dry scrub and desert habitats. In the wild, it favors rocky ground rich in limestone. Some stands reach the edges of pine and juniper woods.

The plant has no trunk and forms clumps of rosettes. RHS gives a garden height and spread of 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre]. LLIFLE describes smaller rosettes, about 1–1.6 feet [0.3–0.5 metres] tall. These spread about 1.3–2 feet [0.4–0.6 metres] across. Narrow, stiff leaves point upward from the base. Their color ranges from light green to yellow-green. Some leaves have dark green marks on their lower sides. Sharp teeth line the edges, and a gray spine ends each leaf. These spines can pierce clothes and even leather.

A tall flower stalk rises well above the leaves. It reaches about 6.6–11.5 feet [2–3.5 metres]. Flowers open from mid-spring through late summer. They are yellow, sometimes with red or purple tones. Insects, bats, and some birds feed at the flowers. Oblong seed capsules follow, with a beak at the tip. Each rosette flowers once, then dies. LLIFLE reports about 20 years before flowering, with extremes of 3–35 years. New offsets help the clump persist after a rosette dies.

Give this plant full sun and soil that drains well. RHS lists sand or loam, with acid or neutral pH. Under glass, it recommends cactus compost and little water during growth. Keep the compost almost dry through winter. Feed with dilute liquid fertilizer three or four times during growth. Plants can spend summer outdoors in a sunny place. RHS rates hardiness H2, so winter shelter matters where frost occurs. PFAF lists USDA zones 10–12. Plants need no pruning and produce offsets freely. Propagate from seed or separate offsets in spring or autumn.

The upright rosettes suit containers, gravel gardens, and specimen planting. Leaf fibers supply material for ropes, brushes, and scrubbers. People also use the plant as a living fence. PFAF records drinks made from fluid in the flowering stalk. It also records historical wound dressings made with juice and salt. These uses do not establish that the plant is safe to eat. RHS warns of skin irritation and harm to dogs and cats if eaten. PFAF also reports poisoning in livestock. Scale insects may attack, though RHS reports few disease problems.