You Had Me at Agave
Agaves are some of the most adaptable and easy to grow succulents. They are all sculptural, but they differ widely in their shape, color, texture and size. Some are blue-gray, some are dark green, others are chartreuse or variegated with yellow to white stripes. Still others have filaments on their leaf margins, and some, of course, have interesting large gnarled marginal teeth, but several types have completely smooth leaf edges with only a small, sharp terminal spine, if any.
Maturity Matters
Some, like Agave bracteosa, are polycarpic, meaning they can flower again and again without dying. Most are monocarpic, meaning after they flower the mother plant dies, and they self-propagate by developing pups off the roots at their base, from bulbils directly on the bloom stalk or by seeds that form in capsules that develop after successful pollination of the flowers. In order for Agaves to flower they must first reach maturity, which can take a long time. This is why many are commonly known as Century Plants. Luckily, most mature quicker than 100 yrs.
Agaves Complete You
The amazing physical diversity of Agaves is due to the many different and variable natural habitats they have each evolved in. True, they are mostly found in arid to semi-arid climates, but they grow naturally in truly diverse habitats. Some are perfectly happy hanging off barren rocky cliffs or growing in limestone or sandstone shelves. They can also grow happily in oak & pine forests at high elevations or thrive on open grassy plains. Wherever you live or whatever environment you are in, know that there is a perfect variety of Agave to complete you. Or rather your garden, landscape or indoor/outdoor collection. For the most cohesive landscape design, don’t be afraid to plant Agaves blended with other perennials, grasses, shrubs, succulents and cacti. This, after all, is how most behave in their wild habitats, having adapted together with other plants in a wide & wonderful botanical matrix.
Most Agaves can be successfully grown in containers, but for landscape use, it is helpful to know where they come from, how much water they prefer, and what size they can achieve at maturity. Below we have provided a helpful list of some popular Agaves, cultivars and selections with their average mature sizes. Underlined Agaves are especially tough, adaptable and reliable in many environments.
Small Size Agaves (18-32in./45-81cm):
Agave applanata ‘Cream Spike’ (less than 1ft.)
Agave bracteosa
Agave celsii ‘Nova’
Agave hybrid ‘Blue Glow’ & ‘Snow Glow’
Agave lophantha & A. l. ‘Quadricolor’
Agave macrocantha
Agave nickelsiae (Syn. Agave ferdinandi-regis)
Agave oteroi 'Oaxaca'
Agave parrasana
Agave potatorum medio-picta alba & A. p. ‘Cubic’
Agave schidigera & A. s. ‘Royal Flush’
Agave titanota, A. t. ‘Black & Blue’, & A. t. ‘White Ice’.
Agave victoria-reginae
Medium to Large Sized Agaves (3-6ft./1-2m)
Agave americana, A. a. marginata & A. a. medio-picta 'alba'
Agave applanata
Agave colorata
Agave desmetiana & A. d. variegata
Agave havardiana
Agave ovatifolia & A. o. 'Frosty Blue'
Agave parryi v. huachucensis & A. p. v. neomexicana
Agave salmiana & A. s. 'Butterfingers'
Agave sisalana
Agave tequiliana ‘Tequila Sunrise’
Agave weberi
**Blogs & photos by Daniel S. Goodspeed, without use of AI. No photos or blog info may be reprinted or reproduced without permission or consent of the author, Happy Valley Plants™ or its subsidiaries.**
