Agave univittata (Thorncrest Century Plant)

In current taxonomic usage, Agave univittata is the preferred and accepted name, while Agave lophantha is treated as an earlier name and is generally regarded as a synonym in modern databases and catalogs.

What makes Agave univittata distinctive?

Agave univittata forms a small to medium rosette of narrow, arching leaves with finely toothed margins and a modest terminal spine, creating a clean and balanced outline. While the species in its natural form bears uniformly green foliage, a very widely grown striped cultivar is distinguished by a pale to creamy central stripe running along each leaf, which has become especially popular in horticulture. The plant thrives in full sun to light shade with excellent drainage and infrequent watering, showing strong tolerance of heat and drought once established. In USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 9b 11, it performs reliably outdoors, and in cooler regions it adapts well to container culture with winter protection. Its combination of compact size, architectural form, and the availability of highly ornamental striped cultivars makes Agave univittata a versatile and widely used agave in warm-climate landscapes.