Agave attenuate is a plant which can appear acaulescent, stems often reach 50 to 150 cm in length, and old leaves fall off, leaving the stems visible. The leaves are ovate-acuminate, 50–70cm long and 12–16 cm wide, pale in colour, ranging from a light grey to light yellowish green. There are no teeth, nor terminal spines, although the leaves taper to soft points that fray with age.
The numerous, egg-shaped and tapered leaves are slightly softer than most Agave species, they are bright glaucous-grey to light yellowish green and stingless. The inflorescence is a dense raceme 2.5 to 3 meters high, with greenish-yellow flowers, growing after many years.
