SucculentsWhale's Tongue Agave
Agave ovatifolia
Whale's Tongue Agave (Agave ovatifolia) is a slow-growing succulent, hardy in USDA zones 7-11, that matures to about 2-3 ft × 3-4 ft. It does best in full sun with low water needs in well-drained, occasionally-dry and very-dry soil. Expect yellow, green and white blooms in summer. It attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, stands up well to drought, dry soil and heat.
- USDA zones
- 7-11
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Low
- Mature size
- 2-3 ft × 3-4 ft
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- Well-drained, Occasionally-dry, Very-dry
- Bloom color
- Yellow, Green, White
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Small mammals
- Tough against
- Drought, Dry soil, Heat
- Native to
- Northeastern Mexico
In the landscape
Data sources
Freeze survival
Will it survive your winters?
Hardiness zones show a normal bad winter. We check the worst one — Whale's Tongue Agave is hardy to about 0°F (estimated from USDA zone 7), so we'll score it against the real coldest nights your area has actually had.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
See the Whale's Tongue Agave in your own yard
Upload a photo and our AI designs with real plants like this one — matched to your USDA zone.
