Agave lechuguilla, commonly known as Lechuguilla, is a small, hardy agave species native to the Chihuahuan Desert in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. It forms dense clumps of narrow, stiff, spine-tipped leaves that are typically green to yellow-green and lined with sharp teeth. This slow-growing succulent is well-adapted to arid environments, thriving in rocky, well-drained soils and full sun. Lechuguilla is a monocarpic plant, meaning it flowers once in its lifetime—sending up a tall flowering stalk that can reach up to 15 feet—and then dies, though it reproduces through offsets. The plant plays a vital ecological role in its native habitat, providing shelter and food for desert wildlife, and has traditional uses among indigenous peoples for its fibers and soap-like saponins.
