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Agave deserti

Engelm.

Desert Agave

G5Secure Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.161483
Element CodePMAGA01061
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderAsparagales
FamilyAsparagaceae
GenusAgave
Synonyms
Agave deserti ssp. deserti
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic Comments
This record is for a narrow treatment of Agave deserti, excluding Agave simplex, as recognized by Salywon and Hodgson (2019). In contrast, Kartesz (1994) and FNA (2002, vol. 26) recognize a broader treatment, including Agave simplex as a subspecies of Agave deserti.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2026-01-22
Change Date2026-01-22
Edition Date2026-01-22
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2026)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Agave deserti is a wide-ranging perennial succulent, forb to shrub found in deserts, in sandy to gravelly or rocky places in desert scrub and shrublands, and pinyon juniper woodlands. It occurs in southwestern North America in California, United, States, and northwestern Mexico in Baja California. There are over 300 occurrences, which face threats from grazing, unintentional gathering of plants (where the target is Yucca schidigera), and other threats in some places. Little is known about trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Agave deserti occurs in southwestern North America in California (Riverside, San Diego, and Imperial counties), United, States, and northwestern Mexico in Baja California (FNA 2002, CNPS 2026, eFloraMex 2026). Range extent was estimated to be approximately 60,000 square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025 (RARECAT 2025, GBIF 2026, iNaturalist 2026, SEINet 2026).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are over 300 occurrences rangewide (RARECAT 2025, GBIF 2026, iNaturalist 2026, SEINet 2026).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, this species is threatened by grazing, unintentional gathering of plants (where the target is Yucca schidigera), and other threats in some places, though there is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this species (Vanderplank 2019).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Agave deserti grows in deserts, in sandy to gravelly or rocky places in desert scrub and shrublands, and pinyon juniper woodlands (FNA 2002, Vanderplank 2019).

Ecology

This species is the host of the California Giant-Skipper (Agathymus stephensi) (Wildflower Center 2026).

Reproduction

This taxon flowers in the spring (FNA 2002, Wildflower Center 2026). Plants are monocarpic, meaning they flower once in their lifetime and then die, with flowering occurring after 8-20 years (Wildflower Center 2026). Plants also create colonies, suckering at the base of parent plants (FNA 2002, Wildflower Center 2026).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousDesert
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
5 - Biological resource useUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
5.2 - Gathering terrestrial plantsUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
5.2.2 - Unintentional effects (species being assessed is not the target)UnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (3)
California (3)
AreaForestAcres
Cactus Springs ASan Bernardino National Forest53
Cactus Springs BSan Bernardino National Forest3,106
Pyramid Peak BSan Bernardino National Forest7,194
References (11)
  1. California Native Plant Society (CNPS), Rare Plant Program. 2026. Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants of California, online edition, v9.5. Online. Available: https://www.rareplants.cnps.org (accessed 2026).
  2. eFloraMex. 2026. La flora electronica de Mexico. Online. Available: www.efloramex.ib.unam.mx (accessed 2026).
  3. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2002a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 26. Magnoliophyta: Liliidae: Liliales and Orchidales. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxvi + 723 pp.
  4. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2026. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2026).
  5. iNaturalist. 2026. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2026).
  6. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  7. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  8. Salywon, A.M. and W.C. Hodgson. 2019. <i>Agave simplex</i>, a new combination for Agavaceae. Phytoneuron 219: 1-4.
  9. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2026. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2026).
  10. Vanderplank, S. 2019. <i>Agave deserti</i>. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T114979533A116353748. Online. Available: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T114979533A116353748.en (accessed 2026).
  11. Wildflower Center. 2026. Native Plant Database. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Austin Texas. Online. Available: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/ (accessed 2026).