Hedgehog (Agave stricta) is a plant of succulent leaves that can grow 10cm – 50cm tall and 10cm – 50cm wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Hedgehog (Agave stricta).
This plant has several common names including: hedgehog, blue hedgehog or rabo de leÓn.
This is a evergreen plant that takes 10-20 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: hedgehog, blue hedgehog, rabo de leÓn
Scientific name: Agave stricta
Plant type: Cactus / Succulent, Conservatory & Greenhouse
Habit: Bushy
Height: 10cm – 50cm
Spread: 10cm – 50cm
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Loam, Sand
Moisture: Well drained
Garden type: Architectural, City & Courtyard Gardens, Coastal, Mediterranean Garden, Rock & Gravel Garden
Other characteristics: RHS Award of Garden Merit
Seasonal colors
Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
---|---|---|---|---|
Spring | ||||
Summer | ||||
Autumn | ||||
Winter |

How to plant Hedgehog (Agave stricta) – Akos Kokai, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cacti and succulent plants are appreciated for their natural charm, mainly for their leaf shapes, but also in some cases for their colorful flowers in spring and summer.
They should be cultivated in areas that mimic the conditions in which they grow in nature, which are usually exposed places with stony and fast-draining soils.
These characteristics make them to be grown in pots.
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How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Hedgehog (Agave stricta), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Hedgehog (Agave stricta) is a plant that prefers to grow in loam or sand.
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The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
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Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.
As for pH, it is a plant that grows ideally in soils with pH acid or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Agave stricta likes to grow in well drained soil.
Sunlight
Hedgehog (Agave stricta) should be grown in full sun places.

Cultivation profiles – Growing Hedgehog (Agave stricta) – Michal Klajban, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons