Agave bovicornuta ‘Cows Horn’

Agave bovicornuta ‘Cow Horns’
Family: Asparagaceae (Agavoideae)
Common Name: Cow Horn Agave
Origin: Rocky slopes of western Mexico (Sonora, Sinaloa, Chihuahua); elevations of 3,000–6,000 ft

Description:
Agave bovicornuta ‘Cow Horns’ is a striking, solitary-growing agave prized for its bold character and distinctive marginal spines. Its open rosette of broad, yellow-green to medium-green leaves stretches up to 5 feet wide, each leaf adorned with large reddish teeth that curve both upward and downward like horns—hence the name. Subtle bud imprints along the leaf surface and a satiny finish on new growth add visual texture and interest.

Native to arid highlands in western Mexico, this agave remains a dramatic focal point until maturity—typically after 12 years—when it sends up a towering 16–23 foot branched flower stalk bearing vivid yellow and green blooms. As a non-offsetting species, each specimen flowers once and then must be replaced, making tissue-cultured clones essential for consistency and long-term design use.