Taxon Details

Agave shawii var. shawii

Shaw's agave

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Taxon Summary:

Agave shawii var. shawii, commonly known as Shaw's agave, is a perennial leaf in the Agavaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Coastal bluff scrub, and Coastal scrub, growing at elevations from 3 to 120 meters. Agave shawii var. shawii is ranked 2B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Agave shawii Engelm. var. shawii
Common Name: Shaw's agave
Family:	Agavaceae
Element Code:	PMAGA010P1
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names: Agave shawii
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.1
Fed List:	None
State List:	None
Global Rank:	G2G3T2T3
State Rank:	S1
Other Status:	IUCN_EN; SB_CalBG/RSABG; SB_SBBG
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1974-01-01
Date Edited:	2025-10-29

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial leaf

Blooming Period: Sep-May

Elevation:
3 - 120 meters
10 - 395 feet

General Habitats:

Coastal bluff scrub
Coastal scrub

Microhabitat Details: Maritime succulent scrub

Microhabitat:

Notes

Notes: Introduced at several locations, including Cabrillo NM. See Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden Occasional Publications 14 (2014) by S.E. Vanderplank for conservation plan.
Threats: Seriously threatened by habitat loss, habitat disturbance, development, trampling, genetic isolation, low recruitment, and genetic dilution from introduced plants. Previously threatened by horticultural collecting, but less so in recent years.
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	9
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	5	63 %
Foot traffic/trampling	4	50%
Erosion/runoff	3	37%
Non-native plant impacts	2	25%
Other	2	25%
Road/trail construction/maint.	1	12%
Vandalism/dumping/litter	1	12%
Wood cutting or brush clearing	1	12%
Development	1	12%
Military operations	1	12%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					8
A	B	C	D	X	U
1	1	0	2	0	4

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	0
Recent <=20 Years	8

Presence:
Presumed Extant	8
Possibly Extirpated	0
Presumed Extirpated	0

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
Baja California (BA), California (CA)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Diego (SDG)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Del Mar (3211782), Encinitas (3311713), Imperial Beach (3211751), Point Loma (3211762)

Notes:

Definitions of codes following a county and/or quad:
*		Presumed extirpated
(?)		Occurrence confirmed, but possibly extirpated
Quad and county data is imported from the CNDDB. Species may be present in other areas where conditions are favorable. These data should NOT be substituted for pre-project review or for on-site surveys.

Regional Map

Map

Presumed Extant

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CNPS Rare Plant Inventory