Bloomipedia
Schott's century plant (Agave schottii)
Photo: Mark Pollock via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Schott's century plant

Agave schottii

Schott's century plant (Agave schottii) is a shrub in the Asparagaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–July across the U.S.

Native to Arizona

Schott's century plant is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Arizona it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

2states where USDA records it
1,251AZ sightings*
1,261U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Arizona

Quick look

Agave schottii, also known by the common name Amole, Schott's century plant, also called shin dagger or Sonoran shin dagger, is a shrub species within the genus Agave. It is a member of the subgenus Littaea. There are two widely recognized varieties of this species: Agave schotti var. schottii and Agave schottii var. treleasei.

  • It belongs to the Asparagaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 2 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Arizona. NatureServe
  • In Arizona, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–July. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,251 research-grade sightings of it in Arizona, ranking #78 among the 132 flowers on our Arizona list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Arizona, most flowering sightings come in May–July.

Flowering records by month in Arizona (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (51 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G4 Apparently secure worldwide. NatureServe
Arizona
Variety listed Only Agave schottii var. treleasei is on Arizona Native Plant Law protected plants (Ariz. Admin. Code R3-3 Art. 11, App. A, eff. Feb. 2, 2025) (highly safeguarded (protected; no removal)). NatureServe: S5, secure in Arizona. AAC R3-3 App. A
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: Agave schottii var. treleasei is on Arizona's rare plant list (highly safeguarded). AAC R3-3 App. A

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records schott's century plant in 2 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, New Mexico.

Arizona counties with USDA records: Cochise, Graham, Pima, Santa Cruz.

Names, range and relatives

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 5 counties across 2 states; the most are in Arizona (4), New Mexico (1).

Other Agave on Bloomipedia (3): Palmer's agave, Parry's agave, Utah agave.

More from the Asparagaceae family (34 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Yuccas, Solomon's plume (false Solomon's seal), Canada mayflower, Blue dicks, Common star-of-Bethlehem, Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley, Chaparral yucca, Mojave yucca.

More Arizona flowers

Soaptree yucca (Yucca elata)

Soaptree yucca

Yucca elata

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🌼 Few flowering records in AZ
Banana yucca (Yucca baccata)

Banana yucca

Yucca baccata

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🌼 Blooms in AZ: March–May
Palmer's agave (Agave palmeri)

Palmer's agave

Agave palmeri

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in AZ

Sources