How to Spot Wild Harvested Agave Utahensis vs Seed Grown

Many (if not most) #agave utahensis that appear in online marketplaces have been dug up and taken from the wild. It's hard to know if this was done legally, or if they were poached, but it is possible to differentiate wild collected plants from seed grown and in this video, I'll teach you how.
If you'd like to purchase seed grown utahensis plants, check out my website: mojave.lv

[@bebepastiche9105]

I had never even considered plants could be poached before watching this video. If an endangered cactus lives in your yard would it still be considered poaching to take cuttings?

[@daskdasksson5873]

I think you own that cactus if it lives in your yard. Its not shoplifting if its in your fridge ;))! If you manage to multiply the endangered plant then I see that as a win for you and the species

[@mojave_lv]

It actually depends on the state. I believe that native cactus are protected even on private land here in Nevada. I've never heard of anyone prosecuted for digging up a cactus on their own land tho, I think it's mainly aimed at large scale land owners and requiring them to get permits before they dig a bunch of native cactuses. And of course, I'm not a lawyer.

[@garygilliam1890]

Can I buy plants from you

[@mojave_lv]

@@garygilliam1890 You can! Check out my website mojave.lv

[@mcculloughdakota]

Great info! Can they be hard grown from seed or as transplanted young plants outside, resulting in the tight upright formation? I’m trying to grow a mostly native garden and I’d love to cultivate some ethically but I love their natural growth formation. So is it just a matter of starting them young outside and recreating their natural growing conditions? I live in S. Nevada btw so I assume that shouldn’t be difficult.

[@mojave_lv]

In my experience, here in Southern Nevada, most of us live at far lower elevations than utahensis naturally grows. So young plants are melted by the summer (May through like September) sun and heat in a matter of hours.

[@mcculloughdakota]

@@mojave_lv Ahh, valid point. So growing in a controlled environment would be the best bet until hardy enough for the outside heat. I wonder how they would react to partial shade. My knowledge of most succulents and cacti is pretty basic compared to that of our other native plants 😅.

[@mojave_lv]

For me, even in partial shade (3-4 hours of sun a day) they melt in a single day during the summer. I've had to use 50% shade cloth even in partial shade areas.