Learn Agave Blue Glow Growing and Care

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Agave Blue Glow is a relatively small-sized, slow-growing succulent plant developed at Rancho Soledad Nurseries of Rancho Santa Fe, California, by horticulturalist Kelly Griffin.

The plant is a cross between Agave attenuata (a. attenuata) and Agave ocahui (a. ocahui).

Blue Glow Agave low growing hybridPin

It’s a member of the Asparagaceae (Lily) family, native to Mexico, and similar to the Agave ‘Blue Flame’ but much smaller.

This hybrid Agave plant type is one of about two hundred under the genus Agave.


The genus name is derived from the Greek agauos, which means admirable, and probably refers to the tall, elegant flower spikes the plant produces once in its lifetime.

Agave Blue Glow Quick Care Tips

  • Botanical Name: Agave ‘Blue Glow’
  • Common Name(s): Blue Glow Agave
  • Synonyms: N/A
  • Pronunciation: A-GAH-vee
  • Family & Origin: Agavaceae family, native to Mexico
  • Growability: Easy to grow
  • Grow Zone: 9-11
  • Size: Can grow up to 18″ – 24″ inches tall and 2′ – 3′ feet wide
  • Flowering: Produces yellow flowers on a tall spike in the summer
  • Light: Full sun to partial shade
  • Humidity: Between 40 and 60 percent
  • Temperature: Can tolerate temperatures as low 25° degrees Fahrenheit
  • Soil: Slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils
  • Water: Drought-tolerant, regular watering throughout the growing season, spring and summer
  • Fertilizer: Doesn’t need fertilizer
  • Pests & Diseases: Agave snout weevils, slugs, soggy soil can lead to root rot
  • Propagation: Propagate through cuttings, leaves, offsets or seeds
  • Plant Uses: Used as a focal point in xeriscape gardens, as a container plant, or as a specimen plant in rock gardens, cactus gardens, desert gardens

Agave Blue Glow Plant Care

Size and Growth

Blue Glow is a beautiful smaller Agave attaining a height of 18″ – 24″ inches and a spread of 2′ – 3′ feet.

The blue-green leaves grow in a solitary rosette formation with a clumping growth habit.

Vibrant agave plant in a desert garden setting.Pin
Photo Credit: Instagram @nobkimi.76

The leaves are about 18″ inches long and about 1½” inches wide with a red terminal spine.

The blue-green leaves are sturdy, thick, and rigid and adorned with bright red toothed margins and a thin, yellow inner line.

Although the edges of the Agave Blue Glow leaves are not sharp, the tips of the bright red terminal spine are quite sharp.

Related: More on Agave Plant Care

Flowering and Fragrance

Like the popular Agave Americana, this monocarpic Agave has a bloom time once in its life, and then it dies.

The flower color is yellow, and the leaf tips have red margins bearing tiny soft spines and a short red terminal spine.

Agave Blue Glow, striking blue-green leaves and red edgesPin

The short red spine gives each leaf a unique symmetrical rosette outlined appearance.



When grown outdoors, plants typically mature between the ages of ten and fifteen.

If kept indoors, your plant may never flower at all.

At maturity, Blue Glow plants grow a sturdy, straight, 10′ 10-foot-high flower stalk.

The flower stalk emerges from the center of the basal rosette.

At its apex, greenish-yellow blooms about 2″ – 3″ inches long appear in attractive, showy panicles.

When the plant has finished blooming, it dies.

Light and Temperature

This compact succulent can grow successfully in partial sun to full sun. Full sun is recommended near coastal areas, and partial shade is recommended for inland plants.

The hybrid is winter hardy in hardiness zones 9 through 11 (USDA zones).

Vibrant agave plant with red-tipped leaves.Pin
Photo Credit: Instagram @masa_godcanyon

The plant can tolerate a little frost but should be protected against temperatures lower than 25° degrees Fahrenheit (-4° C).

Agave Blue Glow Water Needs & Feeding

Although ‘Blue Glow’ is drought tolerant and has low water needs, it grows best with regular watering throughout the growing season, spring and summer.

Reduce watering significantly (or do not water at all) during the winter.

Water regularly in extreme heat. In areas where this compact Agave is not winter hardy, it’s a good choice as a container plant to be brought indoors for the winter.

Three agave plants in pots on a table.Pin
Photo Credit: Instagram @j_agavefarm

Keep your potted Agave in a bright, sunny window and water only minimally.

Moreover, the ideal humidity levels for Agave Blue Glow are between 40 and 60 percent.

Do not fertilize, as this may stimulate the plant to bloom. After that, it will die.

Soil and Transplanting

This succulent can tolerate drought and does passably well in slightly acidic dry soil.

It’s a good choice for areas with shallow, rocky soil. Moreover, this plant thrives in slightly acidic, moist, well-drained soils. Sandy or gravelly soils will also work well.

Agave plant in a succulent gardenPin
Photo Credit: Instagram @nobu__91

The best substrate for this Agave is gritty and sandy, sharp, well-draining soil.

When kept as a potted plant, the Agave Blue Glow Plant appreciates being slightly crowded.

Choose a container a little bit larger than the foliage.

Grooming and Maintenance

Agave requires little or no grooming and maintenance.

If lower leaves wither, trim them off.

You may wish to carefully wipe down the foliage with a clean, damp cloth occasionally to remove dust.

How To Propagate Blue Glow Agave

Unlike non-hybrid Agave species, this plant does not produce any pups on the mother plant.

It may be propagated through cuttings, leaves, offsets, or seeds.

Since the plant is a hybrid, seeds cannot be relied upon to produce true offspring.

For this reason, when your Agave blooms and dies, you must replace it with a brand-new plant.

Agave Pest or Disease Problems

Because this is an Agave, you may find Agave snout weevils problematic.

In a damp setting, snails and slugs may eat the foliage.

Additionally, as with all succulents, soggy soil leads to root rot.

Agave plant with pointed leaves and red edges in a garden.Pin
Photo Credit: Instagram @nobu__91

Is The Plant Toxic Or Poisonous?

The sap of all Agaves is poisonous.

It should not be ingested. Protect your skin and eyes against contact when handling this plant.

Wash up promptly when you finish working with your plant.

This plant is both deer and rabbit tolerant.

Is It Invasive?

Because this plant is a slow-growing Agave attenuata hybrid, it’s not invasive.

Individual plants will thrive in the right climate, but once the plant has finished blooming, it dies and will not leave viable seeds or offsets.

Agave plant with red-tipped leaves.Pin
Photo Credit: Instagram @katopin

Suggested Uses For Blue Glow

Like its parent – Agave attenuata – Agave ‘Blue Glow’ is a good choice for rock gardens, cactus gardens, desert gardens, and small specimen plants in areas where the plant is hardy in winter.

In other areas, it makes an interesting and enduring container accent plant that can be moved outdoors in summer and indoors in winter.

A common choice in sunny, low-water gardens in warm coastal Mediterranean-like climates.

Agave plants are especially attractive when planted in a location where the sun can shine through the colorful leaves.

Agave plant with vibrant leaf edges.Pin
Photo Credit: Instagram @spikey_tendencies

A sunny window is an excellent spot for potted plants both for its edification and because the sun shining through makes the plant even prettier.

As a hybrid, Agave ‘Blue Glow’ brings together all the best traits of its parents Agave attenuata and Agave ocahui.

Its leaves are broader, and its colors are brighter than either parent.

The fact the blue glow Agave plant is small in size and does not spread makes it an excellent choice for the full sun as a patio or balcony plant or in a very small yard or garden.

Be sure to plant your ‘mini’ Century Plant off the beaten track to prevent injuries caused by its sharp spikes and toxic sap.