Agave tequilana

Botanical identity and natural origin of Agave tequilana

Agave tequilana is native to western and central Mexico and grows in dry shrubland and semidry uplands. In western Mexico it grows above about 1,500 m on mineral-rich, loamy ground.

The species has been cultivated for generations. Tequila production commonly uses the cultivated clone known as Weber Azul, one form within the wider species.

Growing and handling Agave tequilana

• Light: Give it full, bright light with direct sun. If it has been kept in softer light, build up stronger sun exposure slowly. Bright light helps the long blue-green leaves stay firm.
• Repotting: Repot when roots or shoots from the base crowd the container. Use a heavy pot for balance.
• Water: Water thoroughly when the mix is dry throughout, then allow the pot to drain fully.
• Potting mix: Use a gritty, fast-draining mix with plenty of pumice or grit and a little loamy or organic material.
• Temperature and airflow: Keep temperatures around 10–30 °C. Use a warmer spot during prolonged spells below 1 °C. A humidity level around 40–50% is suitable. It grows well in warm, bright conditions. Keep potted plants frost-free and leave the mix dry for longer as temperatures fall. Normal indoor humidity is fine when the leaf bases have room to dry after watering.
• Feeding: Use low-nitrogen fertiliser at light strength as new leaves are produced.
• Propagation: Separate rooted shoots that form at the base or grow the species from seed. Seedlings can vary in appearance from the parent plant.

Health issues in Agave tequilana

• Persistent wilt, brown roots, soft leaf bases or a loose crown: Prolonged moisture can damage the roots and start root or crown rot. Cut decayed roots and soft tissue back to firm, healthy tissue with a clean tool, discard the rotten material and old mix, let the cut surfaces dry and repot in fresh, airy substrate.
• Brown scales, sticky patches or white cottony clusters: Scale insects or mealybugs may be feeding along the long leaves and bases. Isolate the plant and use a product labelled for the pest you identify. Repeat treatment at the interval stated on the label.
• New leaves grow long and thin: The plant needs stronger light. Move it to a brighter position so later leaves emerge firmer and broader.

Agave tequilana is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs, and handle the sharp leaves carefully.
• Its sap and tissues contain irritating saponins and oxalates. Rigid leaf tips and toothed margins can also scratch or puncture skin, eyes, mouths or paws.
• Exposure may cause mouth pain, drooling, vomiting, skin irritation or puncture wounds. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional if symptoms or an injury develop.

The meaning and history of Agave tequilana

Agave comes from the Greek agauos, meaning noble, illustrious or admirable. The epithet tequilana refers to Tequila in Jalisco, Mexico.

Carl Linnaeus established the genus Agave in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 323.

Frédéric Albert Constantin Weber first described Agave tequilana in 1902 in Bulletin du Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle (Paris), volume 8, page 220.