A smallish and attractive succulent perennial, it is native to partial desert areas of Mexico from Puebla south to Oaxaca.

[4] In its range, it is used extensively to make mezcal, and for this reason, it is considered to be a threatened species.

[1] This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

[5] Agave potatorum grows as a basal rosette of between 30 and 80 flat spatulate leaves of up to 1 foot in length and edge fringe of short, sharp, dark spines and ending in a needle of up to 1.6 inches long.

The leaves are pale, silvery white, with the flesh coloured green fading lilac to pink at the tips.