Shaw's Agave (Agave shawii)

Agave shawii—Agave de la costa. Included in the CNPS Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants on list [2.1] (rare, threatened, or endangered in CA; common elsewhere). Agave shawii—Agave de la costa There is also a population at Point Loma although the natural provenance of this patch is questionable. Our Agave shawii blooms nearly every year now. Photographed at Regional Parks Botanic Garden located in Tilden Regional Park near Berkeley, CA. Photo Credit: John Rusk © 2017

Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
Legal Status: N/A
Family: Asparagaceae
State: CA
Nature Serve ID: 145119
Lifeform: Subshrub, Forb/herb, Shrub
Categories of Interest: Cacti/Succulents
Date Inducted in National Collection:

Description:

Agave shawii is a rosette forming succulent, it can be either solitary or form clonal colonies. It typically flowers it late spring or early summer, though it can flower during fall in years of heavy summer rain. Agave shawii can grow for 20-40 years before producing a 15 inflorescence of purple-red bracts and tubular yellow flowers.

Where is Shaw's Agave (Agave shawii) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Agave shawii grows in coastal sage scrub and chaparral communities.

Distribution:

Agave shawii is endemic to northern Baja California and San Diego County. It is found only in a narrow strip of coastal habitat within this region. In San Diego County there are only two natural and two re-introduced populations. The species is believed to be more abundant in Baja California.

States & Provinces:

Shaw's Agave can be found in California

Conservation Actions

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Shaw's Agave (Agave shawii) Characteristics

Nomenclature

Taxon	Agave shawii
Authority	Engelm.
Family	Asparagaceae
CPC Number	6017
ITIS	182693
USDA	AGSH
Duration	Perennial
Common Names	Coastal Agave \| Shaw's Agave \| Maguey Primavera
Associated Scientific Names	Agave shawii \| Agave orcuttiana \| Agave pachyacantha
Distribution	Agave shawii is endemic to northern Baja California and San Diego County. It is found only in a narrow strip of coastal habitat within this region. In San Diego County there are only two natural and two re-introduced populations. The species is believed to be more abundant in Baja California.

State Rank

State	State Rank
California	SNR

Ecological Relationships

Photos

Photo Credit: Damien Lasater @ San Diego Zoo

Pollinators

Common Name	Name in Text	Association Type	Source	InteractionID
Bees
	Bees	Not Specified	Link

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