Agave

What exactly is agave?

Agaves are in sub-family Agavoideae of the Asparagaceae. (Yes, this includes asparagus.)
There are more than 550 species of agave and in the Americas many have been used as sources of food and alcohol for millennia.
Agave sap is also used as a syrup, which is a great substitute for sugar.
The fibres from the leaves have been used for weaving textiles to make skirts, mats, rope and baskets. The wax extracted from some species of agave is used as soap and for washing clothes. Other uses for agave have been as diverse as brushes, essential oil and even shoe polish.
Agave tequilana (Blue weber), is the species of agave that makes tequila.

It is a fire-resistive plant, generally burns at a much lower intensity than the average plant (4)
High water retention, the total amount of moisture relative to its dry weight (3)
Extremely low transpiration ratio (mass of water transpired/mass of CO2 fixed) (3)
High yields with minimal resource inputs (2)
Peer-reviewed researched papers, government-backed organizations, & university-based research all agree that agave serves as an ideal firebreak to fire-prone areas (1-5)
Evidence supporting agave as a firebreak in CA can be dated back to 2005; the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection included “Blue Agave” in their list of recommended plants for Fire
Safe Landscaping (5)
As recommended by the CA Dept. of Forestry & Fire protection, agave (succulents) are designed to provide maximum fire protection to one’s home (5)
Wildfire is a continual threat to many homeowners in California (5)
Newspaper outlets, including the Los Angeles Times & The Santa Barbara Independent, have documented incidents in which succulents created a firebreak that ultimately saved people’s homes (6)
Agave genus is native to the deserts and dry lands of central
Mexico and the southwestern USA (2)