After several years of slow growth, the plant puts all of its resources to produce a towering stalk of flowers, and then dies.

[7] For centuries, this species proved to be an invaluable source of accessible and abundant food for the indigenous peoples in the region, like the Kumeyaay, Tiipai and Paipai.

After flowering, it produces fruits 5.5–7 cm (2.2–2.8 in) large, containing fertilized (black-colored) and unfertilized (white-colored) seeds.

Although capable of reproducing by suckering, populations vary considerably in their behavior, with some consisting entirely of individual rosettes, while others form groups or colonies of clones.

[13] The coastal subspecies shawii is the taxon present in San Diego County, and ranges south to El Rosario in Baja California.

[15] Subspecies shawii was probably once found north of Torrey Pines, but with the development of all viable habitat, has all but disappeared from the American side of the border.

[17] In a preservation effort, Shaw's agaves were introduced into Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego, California and have established themselves.

[21] The coastal agave (Tiipai: me’ellh, ma’alh, ma’alh jas’ilh, Paipai: me’elh jas’ilh ruii kiyak) was widely utilized by indigenous peoples until the European colonization of the Americas forced natives away from the coastal region where Agave shawii occurs.

[22] The Spanish explorers and missionaries from Sebastián Vizcaíno and Junipero Serra's expeditions noticed the usage of the agave for fiber and food.

Serra said on his arrival to the coast near El Descanso, "We saw the land was covered with very good mescal but I think the Indians pay little attention to it due to the abundance of fish and other foods.

[8] The fiber of the agave would have been put to a great variety of uses, for making belts, bowstrings, carrying nets, cordage, sandals, and other indispensable items.

Some Paipai women still produce agave fiber products today, from A. deserti, which are sold as handicrafts, but also offer to teach both natives and non-natives throughout the region.