Succulents 101: Aloes vs. agaves

My posts sometimes assume a fairly advanced level of knowledge. Many of you have that, but others might feel a bit left out. To remedy that, I decided to do a series of more basic posts. Hopefully they’ll be useful for readers who are new to succulents without boring folks who are already familiar with the topic discussed.

This installment of Succulents 101 is about the differences between aloes and agaves. Both are strikingly beautiful succulents often mistaken for each other because of their similar appearance. However, they belong to completely different plant families and have distinct characteristics.

Aloe wickensii (in flower) and Aloe hereroensis to the left of it. The plants at top right and bottom left are agaves, the plant at top left is a yucca.

Before I go into the key similarities and differences, here are some easy tells to distinguish between aloes and agaves:

❉ Easy tells

In flower, aloes and agave look very different. There’s no confusing the two. See below for examples of aloe and agave flowers.
If not in flower, the best way to tell aloes and agave apart is by the succulence and texture of the leaf.

If the leaf is plump, breaks easily, and contains a gel-like substance, it’s an aloe.
If the leaf is tough and fibrous, it’s an agave.

If there are prickles on the leaf surface, either on top or below, it’s an aloe. Agaves don’t have prickles on the leaf surfaces.

Prickles on the leaf surfaces = aloe

No prickles = agave

❉ Similarities

Succulent nature

Both have evolved to store water in their leaves, which often have a waxy or powdery surface. This makes both well-suited for arid climates.

Rosette growth

All agaves and most aloes grow in a rosette form with leaves radiating from a central point.

Low maintenance

Both require minimal care, thriving in well-draining soil and bright sunlight.

Ornamental value

Both are popular choices for xeriscaping and as decorative plants in gardens and landscapes.

Spiral aloes (Aloe polyphylla)

Queen Victoria agaves (Agave victoriae-reginae)

❉ Differences

Family and origin

— Aloes: Aloes belong to the family Asphodelaceae and are native to the Old World (Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Madagascar).

— Agaves: Agaves belong to the family Asparagaceae and are native to the New World (North, Central and South America). Mexico has the most native agave species.

Size

— Aloes: The size of aloes ranges from miniatures smaller than a hand to trees up to 30 ft. in height.

— Agaves: In width, agaves range from under 1 ft. to as much as 12 ft. Few agaves have a trunk, and even those that do generally don’t exceed 6-8 ft. in height. The flower stalk, however, can get to 40 ft. on the very largest species.

Tree aloe (Aloidendron ‘Hercules’)

Enormous Agave salmiana ‘Butterfingers’ with blogger Loree Bohl (danger garden) for scale

Leaf texture

— Aloes: Leaves are generally softer, fleshy, and filled with a gel-like substance. Some species have prickles either on top of the leaves and/or on the underside.

— Agaves: Leaves are tougher and often have a leathery or fibrous texture. Agave leaves never have prickles on the leaf surface.

Aloe leaf filled with gel

Agave leaf

Teeth and spines

— Aloes: Softer, less rigid teeth along the leaf margins. The spine at the tip of the leaf (terminal spine) is usually short and rubbery.

— Agaves: Sharper, more pronounced teeth on the leaf edges and rigid (often long) spines at the leaf tips.

Aloe distans

Aloe arborescens

Agave macroacantha

Agave potatorum

Flower shape

— Aloes: Tubular flowers in clusters, often on tall flower stalks (inflorescences). Colors vary, but are often red, orange, or yellow.

— Agaves: Larger, more dramatic inflorescences that can be many feet tall, with many small individual flowers.

The inflorescence on both aloes and agaves can either be paniculate (the flowers are on side branches off the flower stalk) or spicate (the flowers emerge directly from the flower stalk). More examples below.

Aloe flowers

Agave flowers

Lifespan

— Aloes: All aloe species are perennial and bloom multiple times throughout their life, generally once a year.

— Agaves: Most species are monocarpic, meaning they bloom once (often after several decades) and then die.

Growing season

— Aloes: Depending on the rainfall pattern of their native habitat, some aloes actively grow in the summer, but most grow and flower in the cool, rainy season (late fall through early spring).

— Agaves: Virtually all agaves are in active growth during the warm season and are dormant in the winter.

Uses

— Aloes: Known for medicinal and cosmetic uses. The best known medicinal aloe is Aloe barbadensis (also known as Aloe vera); its sap is used to promote skin healing and hydration.

— Agaves: Used for food and drink (think Agave tequilana for tequila production), and fibers like sisal.

More flower photos

— Aloes: