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 regions, 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 attenuata

Agave attenuata is a common landscape plant in warm, dry climates. This agave develops thick trunks topped with spike-free gray-green leaves. It grows 3-6 feet tall and wide. Zones 9-11
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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 guiengola

Agave guiengola produces broad, fleshy whitish-green leaves that can grow 2 feet long. The plant is much wider than it is tall, reaching 6 feet across and just 4 feet in height. Zones 9-11
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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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'Belleville' agave

Agave salmiana 'Belleville' makes a bold statement in the garden. The foliage is slightly wavy and bright green. It can grow 3 feet tall. Zones 9-11
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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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'Crazy Horse' agave

Agave salmiana 'Crazy Horse' has wide and flat, blue-green leaves that have serrated edges. It can grow 3 feet tall and 5 feet wide. Zones 9-11
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Foxtail agave

Agave attenuata variegata offers colorful variegated foliage with leaves boldly patterned in yellow. It's slower growing than the plain-green form and can reach 4 feet tall and wide. Zones 9-11
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Havard's agave

Agave havardiana is one of the largest and hardiest agaves. It grows about 3 feet tall and wide and has a neat clumping form. Zones 5-10
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'Joe Hoak' agave

Agave desmetiana 'Joe Hoak' is prized for its gray-green foliage brushed with cream. It grows 2 feet tall, making it a great choice for growing in containers. Zones 9-11
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'Kisso Kan' agave

Agave 'Kissho Kan' is a handsome variety from Japanese that's very compact and excellent for growing in containers. It has blue-green leaves with cream edges and dark brown spines. It grows 12 inches tall and wide. Zones 9-11
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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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'Quadricolor' agave

Agave lophantha 'Quadricolor' develops spectacular foliage with stripes of white, dark green, light green, and yellow. An excellent container plant, it grows 18 inches tall. Zones 9-11
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'Shiro ito no Ohi' agave

Agave schidigera 'Shiro ito no Ohi' is a beautiful plant that looks great in containers. It has dark green leaves edged in white and featuring curly white hairs. It can grow 12 inches tall. Zones 8-11
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'Tradewinds' agave

Agave 'Tradewinds' is a close relative of 'Kissho Kan' and looks similar with gray-green leaves striped in cream. It's a great container plant. Zones 9-11
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Garden Plans

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Architectural Front Yard Garden Plan
Tropical-Theme Summer Perennial Garden Plan

Plant It With

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Lavender

Lavender's silvery foliage and airy flower spikes create a nice contrast to the bold foliage of agave.

Yucca

Yucca and agave have the same growth requirements, and their plant forms look great together.

Penstemon

Add color to beds and borders with agaves by planting bright, drought-tolerant penstemons.

Propagation

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Division