Plant types

Plant styles

Planting conditions

Seasonal interest

Nurseries & Gardens

Photo by Stan Shebs

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Show all photos

Buy Agave vilmoriniana

Also Known As

Agave vilmoriana
Octopus Agave

Plant type

cactus / succulent

size

H: 3'-4'
W: 3'-4'

planting zones

9b-11

4in | $6.75

Buy button links directly to nursery

200 at Dry Oasis Plants

More Options

Agave vilmoriniana plant details

Agave vilmoriniana is an evergreen cactus / succulent with blue foliage. In summer green and yellow flowers emerge. Features glaucous texture. Grows well with sun - mostly sun and occasional - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in summer, dry in winter. Does well in average, gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Agave vilmoriniana

Plant type: cactus / succulent
Plant family: agavaceae, asparagaceae
Foliage: evergreen blue
Mature size: 3 FT - 4 FT - wide, 3 FT - 4 FT - tall
Flowers: green and yellow blooms in summer
Uses: architectural, bare root shipping available, container plant, desert garden, rock garden, rosette-forming, spineless, xeric

GROWING CONDITIONS for Agave vilmoriniana

USDA Zones: 9b - 11
Sun exposure: sun - mostly sun
Watering frequency: occasional - low
Resistant to: deer and rabbit, heat and verticillium wilt
Soil needs: average, gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained

We independently publish plant data to search multiple nurseries at once. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases when you buy through our links.

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Agave vilmoriniana, known as Octopus Agave, reaches a mature height of 3 to 4 feet and a spread of 6 to 8 feet. Its long, narrow, arching leaves create a unique silhouette, resembling the tentacles of an octopus, making it an excellent focal point in arid landscapes. Plant in well-drained soil under full sun for optimal growth. Drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, it's ideal for xeriscaping, rock gardens, or as a standalone specimen.

These Octopus Agave were grown from bulbils and are still young, having just rooted in the Fall of 2023, but are relatively quick growers.

This plant is shipped "dry-root" and you will receive a comparable plant to the one pictured.

By: Dry Oasis Plants

Zn 9. Smooth, narrow, twisted, green foliage.

By: Little Prince of Oregon

The Octopus or Squid Agave. Large, virtually spineless agave, very easy to handle. Great for landscaping.

By: Paradise Found Nursery

Full Sun to Partial Shade. Outdoor. huge 10-25' stalk with Yellow Flowers and bulbils.

By: Moon - Sun Cactus & Koi Gardens

One of the prettiest Agaves around! And the friendliest! With no prickly spines, this Agave is very easy to incorporate into your garden. The blue-ish leaves compliment its neighbors too. Understandably named “Octopus Agave” since it looks like a many-armed octopus swaying in the ocean currents. After several years it will produce a 10-12’ tall flower spike of yellow blooms. Plantlets form on the spike & drop to the ground to form new plants. The original plant will die after blooming but there will be many babies to start anew. Grows 3-4’ tall & 5-6’ wide, doesn’t produce offsets that would mar its shapely form. Great for containers. Native to northwest Mexico. Needs good drainage.