Agave bovicornuta Gentry – Cow’s Horn Agave
Garden: Balchik
Season: Winter
Agave bovicornuta Gentry is a perennial, monocarpic succulent belonging to the family Asparagaceae (subfam. Agavoideae). The species is native to western Mexico, where it occurs naturally on rocky slopes, canyon walls, and mountainous terrain at elevations between approximately 500 and 1,900 m. In its native habitat, Agave bovicornuta is not common. The species is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, due to long-term population decline linked to habitat disturbance and collection from the wild.
Agave bovicornuta Gentry forms a solitary, open rosette. Mature plants reach approximately 80–100 cm in height and 1.5–2 m in width. The leaves are thick, fleshy, and broadly lanceolate to spatulate, widest near the middle and narrowing toward the base. Young foliage is deep green to bluish green with a smooth, satiny surface, becoming more yellow-green with age. The margins can be strongly serrated, bearing prominent, often recurved marginal teeth in varying sizes, and each leaf ends in a short, stout terminal spine. Overlapping leaf growth creates distinctive bud imprints on the leaf surfaces, enhancing the plant’s ornamental character.
After approximately 10–12 years—sometimes up to 20 years under cooler or drier conditions—Agave bovicornuta Gentry produces a tall, narrowly branched inflorescence reaching 5–7 m in height. The flowering stalk emerges in autumn, develops slowly through winter, and reaches full bloom in spring. The inflorescence carries numerous tubular, yellow to yellow-green flowers arranged on short lateral branches. As a monocarpic species, the plant flowers only once in its lifetime; after seed production, the rosette gradually declines and dies. Unlike many other agaves, this species does not form offsets or bulbils, making flowering a true end-of-life event. Seed production requires cross-pollination, and the resulting dry capsules release lightweight, winged seeds that are dispersed by wind. Historically, the species has been relatively rare in cultivation because of its solitary growth and limited seed production, but modern propagation methods, including tissue culture, have increased its availability.
Agave bovicornuta Gentry prefers full sun to light shade, with some protection recommended in extremely hot or arid inland climates. It requires well-drained soil and is moderately drought-tolerant, although occasional irrigation during the growing season promotes faster growth.
Due to its striking foliage, sculptural form, and non-spreading habit, Agave bovicornuta Gentry is highly valued as an accent plant in xerophytic gardens, rock gardens, and large containers. Ethnobotanically, the species has been used by indigenous communities of the Río Mayo region as a food source, although the plant is considered more bitter than other agaves used for this purpose. As with other agave species, the sap is caustic and may cause temporary dermatitis on sensitive skin.
At the University Botanic Garden – Balchik, we are thrilled to exhibit a flowering specimen of Agave bovicornuta Gentry that has been with us for over 10 years. We were bitterly happy to finally see it bloom, knowing it marks the nearing end of its life. Visitors can admire this spectacular plant in our expositional greenhouse, open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Agave bovicornuta Gentry forms a solitary, open rosette. Mature plants reach approximately 80–100 cm in height and 1.5–2 m in width. The leaves are thick, fleshy, and broadly lanceolate to spatulate, widest near the middle and narrowing toward the base. Young foliage is deep green to bluish green with a smooth, satiny surface, becoming more yellow-green with age. The margins can be strongly serrated, bearing prominent, often recurved marginal teeth in varying sizes, and each leaf ends in a short, stout terminal spine. Overlapping leaf growth creates distinctive bud imprints on the leaf surfaces, enhancing the plant’s ornamental character.
After approximately 10–12 years—sometimes up to 20 years under cooler or drier conditions—Agave bovicornuta Gentry produces a tall, narrowly branched inflorescence reaching 5–7 m in height. The flowering stalk emerges in autumn, develops slowly through winter, and reaches full bloom in spring. The inflorescence carries numerous tubular, yellow to yellow-green flowers arranged on short lateral branches. As a monocarpic species, the plant flowers only once in its lifetime; after seed production, the rosette gradually declines and dies. Unlike many other agaves, this species does not form offsets or bulbils, making flowering a true end-of-life event. Seed production requires cross-pollination, and the resulting dry capsules release lightweight, winged seeds that are dispersed by wind. Historically, the species has been relatively rare in cultivation because of its solitary growth and limited seed production, but modern propagation methods, including tissue culture, have increased its availability.
Agave bovicornuta Gentry prefers full sun to light shade, with some protection recommended in extremely hot or arid inland climates. It requires well-drained soil and is moderately drought-tolerant, although occasional irrigation during the growing season promotes faster growth.
Due to its striking foliage, sculptural form, and non-spreading habit, Agave bovicornuta Gentry is highly valued as an accent plant in xerophytic gardens, rock gardens, and large containers. Ethnobotanically, the species has been used by indigenous communities of the Río Mayo region as a food source, although the plant is considered more bitter than other agaves used for this purpose. As with other agave species, the sap is caustic and may cause temporary dermatitis on sensitive skin.
At the University Botanic Garden – Balchik, we are thrilled to exhibit a flowering specimen of Agave bovicornuta Gentry that has been with us for over 10 years. We were bitterly happy to finally see it bloom, knowing it marks the nearing end of its life. Visitors can admire this spectacular plant in our expositional greenhouse, open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.