This plant is widely cultivated worldwide for its ornamental value and has become naturalized in various regions, including Southern California, the West Indies, South America, the Mediterranean Basin, Africa, the Canary Islands, India, China, Thailand, and Australia.

Towards the end of its life, the plant produces a tall, branched stalk adorned with yellow blossoms, which can reach a height of 8–9 m (25–30 ft).

[10] The plant's presence can evoke the ambiance of 18th- to 19th-century Spanish colonial and Mexican provincial areas in the Southwestern United States, California, and xeric regions of Mexico.

[citation needed] When grown as a houseplant, A. americana is tolerant of light levels ranging from direct sunlight to shade and requires minimal watering.

Two subspecies and two varieties of A. americana are:[12] Cultivars include:[13][14] (those marked agm, as well as the parent species,[19] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit).

[21] Mezcal and tequila, despite being produced from agave plants, differ from pulque in their sugar extraction techniques and classification as distilled spirits.

Agave nectar is marketed as a natural sweeteners with a low glycemic index, primarily due to its high fructose content.

[23] The leaves of A. americana yield fibers called pita, which are suitable for making ropes, nets, bags, sacks, matting, and coarse cloth.

[30] The plant holds heraldic significance and is featured in the coat of arms of Don Diego de Mendoza, a Native American governor of the village of Ajacuba, Hidalgo.