Name these for me please.

by Chris M
(Santa Cruz, Ca)

succulent with thorns or cactus?I don't know the name of my cactus.

Drought Smart Plants reply: Hi Chris, these both look like Agave, one of the best plants for xeriscaping in warmer climates such as where you are.

You can tell these from any other similar plant by the prominent (and deadly) thorns at the tip of each leaf. In some nurseries, there is some poor worker who has to go around and trim them all off, or blood would be running as they work around them and ship them.

It's pretty much impossible to tell you exactly which ones you have, as there are so many different ones. These both look really healthy and beautiful.

See this page for more on Agave.

Jacki