agave

Among the most architectural plants, agaves feature bold succulent leaves that set the tone for wherever they're planted. They're incredibly heat- and drought-tolerant and most are long-lived. Many varieties bear sharp spines along leave margins and at the leaf tip, which adds to their dramatic presentation. The bluish-green rosettes naturally spread by producing offsets at the base of the plant. It is an excellent choice for sunny, hot, dry areas, especially desert areas, with good drainage.

Light:

Sun, Part Sun

Zones:

5-11

Plant Type:

Perennial

Plant Height:

1-15 feet tall

Plant Width:

1-10 feet wide

Flower Color:

The greenish-yellow flowers are usually upstaged by the bluish-green foliage

Bloom Time:

Blooms on tall spikes in summer

Landscape Uses:

Containers, Beds & Borders, Groundcover

Special Features:

Attractive Foliage, Winter Interest, Drought Tolerant, Deer Resistant, Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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Agave americana 'Marginata'

Agave americana 'Marginata' is also called century plant because it blooms infrequently. After the mother plant blooms, it dies, but offsets continue to grow. It is a large plant, reaching up to 6 feet tall. Zones 10-11.
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Agave celsii

Agave celsii is a clump former with blue-green leaves that gracefully curve upward. Variegated forms such as 'Multicolor' and 'Tricolor' are quite showy, with white-striped foliage and brown spines on leaf edges. Zones 8-10.
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Agave parryi

Agave parryi bears broad, spiny, blue-green leaves and forms a compact rosette that grows 20 inches tall and spreads up to 3 feet wide. Zones 6-10.
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Agave victoriae-reginae

Agave victoriae-reginae features blunt, triangular leaves marked with white stripes. This easy-care plant is also grown as a houseplant. Zones 10-11.
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Octopus agave

(Agave vilmorinaria) bears thick evergreen leaves to 3 feet long that have a distinctive curly look. It grows 4 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Zones 9-10
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Cameron White butterfly agave

(Agave potatorum 'Cameron White') shows off wide evergreen spiny leaves to 3 feet wide. It grows 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Zone 10
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