Kaibab Utah Agave (Agave utahensis var. kaibabensis) is a succulent perennial with short, stout, upright, blue-green leaves that arise from a basal rosette and are well guarded on the edges and the tips with spines. In the spring, some plants in a population send up a tall flower stalk that bears many yellow flowers. After a plant blooms, it dies.

Kaibab Utah Agave are identified primarily by the relatively long leaves (longer than other varieties), medium-length apical spine, and short, marginal spines. Compare with other varieties of Utah Agave.

Utah Agave is a locally common species of rocky areas in the Mojave Desert in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub and Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) life zone. This variety occurs in northern Arizona and southern-most Utah, on the edge of the Colorado Plateau floristic zone.

Family: Agave (Agavaceae).

Other Names: Kaibab Agave, century plant.

Plant Form: basal rosette with tall flowering stalk. This variety tends to not have sprouts at the base.

Height: Basal leaves to about 18 inches (longer than other varieties of this species); flowering stalk to 20 feet (3-7.5 m).

Trunk: none.

Leaves: Long (30-50 cm long) daggers with spines along the edges and a sharp tip.

Flowers: Blooms in the spring or early summer. Inflorescence a spike. Flowers large, yellowish, and waxy.

Seeds:

Elevation: About 3,000 to 6,000 ft.

Distribution: Northern Arizona and southern-most Utah.

Comments: Kaibab agave is found at higher elevations around Zion and the Grand Canyon.