Cloning Success in Our Espadín Fields - June 2025

We planted Agave espadín in April of 2023 and started to see our first clones beginning to appear within 11 months. We harvested approximately 30,000 plants this spring, with the plants now producing 3–4 pups (clones) per plant. We are pleasantly surprised by how productive this variety is.

In addition, the espadín we planted last April are also producing pups. At this rate, we see no reason to import additional Agave espadín hijuelos from Mexico. California Agave Growers will have plenty of California-born and raised hijuelos for spring of 2026.

Of interest, we have noticed about 1–2% of these clones are smaller with a much greater number of leaves. They almost look like entirely different plants than that of the “mother.” Upon further inspection, we realized these are mutations that have a cluster of clones all emanating from a single rhizome. Once plucked from the plant, they can be pulled apart and planted individually.

We asked Dr. June Simpson about these plants during the last symposium in Davis. She told us they should be just as viable as any other clone—just smaller. We intend on planting some of these to see how they’ll do. We’ll report what we find!