Plants in genus agave
Agave simplex
Agave simplex is a striking succulent native to Cunningham Pass, Arizona, known for its grey-blue leaves forming a 20-inch tall rosette. It is sensitive to wet winter soils but thrives in dry conditions, attracting hummingbirds with its flowers. This plant is well-suited for xeriscaping and adds a touch of the Southwest to gardens.
Agave utahensis ssp. eborispina
Agave utahensis ssp. eborispina, known as the Ivoryspined agave, is a small, clump-forming agave native to the Nopah Mountains. It grows to about 8-12 inches tall and wide, with heavily toothed leaves and stout, wavy, ivory-colored terminal spines. This agave is very cold hardy, tolerating temperatures down to 0°F when dry. It requires well-drained soil and thrives in full sun, making it a suitable companion for cacti like Echinocereus and Escobaria.
Agave parryi
Agave parryi is a succulent perennial native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It features grey-green leaves with reddish-brown spikes and forms a rosette up to 2.5 feet in diameter. This drought-tolerant plant requires full sun and is hardy to approximately -5°F. It produces a tall stalk with bright yellow blooms before dying.
Agave ovatifolia
Agave ovatifolia, native to the Chihuahuan Desert in Mexico, is a solitary-growing succulent with bluish-grey, rigid leaves. Known for its cold and drought tolerance, it can withstand temperatures as low as -5°F when dry. This agave forms a symmetrical rosette, reaching up to 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide, and is one of the best agaves for cold, wet climates. Its inflorescence can grow up to 13 feet high, producing green to yellow flowers.
Agave parryi var. huachucensis
The Huachuca agave, or Agave parryi var. huachucensis, is a compact, rosette-forming succulent native to the Huachuca Mountains in Arizona. It features broad, short grey leaves with distinctive brown terminal spines, reaching up to 8 inches wide and 26 inches long. This plant is known for its cold hardiness, tolerating temperatures as low as -4°F. It produces a broad flower stem with large, bright yellow flowers in late spring to early summer. The Huachuca agave thrives in full sun or lightly shaded areas and grows at a slow to medium rate. It is well-suited for USDA hardiness zones 6a to 9b, making it a resilient choice for various climates. This agave is also known for its ability to withstand drought conditions, making it a low-maintenance option for gardeners seeking a striking, hardy plant.
Agave mckelveyana
Agave mckelveyana is a winter-hardy century plant species native to western Arizona, thriving at elevations of 3,000 to 6,000 feet. It forms a small suckering rosette with grey-green leaves up to 10 inches long. This plant is sensitive to overwatering, especially in winter, and features a flowering stalk up to 16 feet tall with yellowish flowers.
Agave bracteosa
Agave bracteosa, native to the Sierra Madre Oriental of Mexico, is a succulent with long, spineless leaves that curl gracefully. It thrives in well-drained, semi-shaded locations and is known for its distinctive flower spike resembling a yellow bottlebrush. This plant is ideal for rock gardens and xeriscaping due to its drought tolerance.
Agave maculata
Agave maculata, native to Mexico, is a drought-tolerant succulent with grey-green, deeply channeled leaves marked with purple spots. It forms small rosettes and produces tall spikes of creamy pink flowers in midsummer. This plant is well-suited for xeriscaping and can tolerate both dry and rainy conditions.
Agave montana
Agave montana is a striking succulent native to the high elevations of northern Mexico, known for its glossy green leaves with large teeth and a long black spine. This drought-tolerant plant serves as an effective barrier against deer and requires ample light and well-draining soil.
Agave polianthiflora
Agave polianthiflora is a small succulent native to northern Mexico, known for its striking red tubular flowers and narrow, lance-shaped leaves adorned with white filaments. This plant forms a compact rosette that can reach up to 5 inches tall and 10 inches wide. It thrives in shallow, well-drained soil and is often found on forested rock outcrops at elevations up to 6,500 feet. The flower spikes can grow as tall as 6 feet, attracting hummingbirds with their vibrant pinkish-red blooms. Agave polianthiflora is drought-tolerant and suitable for rock gardens or xeriscaping. It is propagated from seed and prefers full sun to part sun exposure. This evergreen perennial is also resistant to deer and rabbits, making it a hardy choice for various garden settings.
Agave flexispina
Agave flexispina is a winter-hardy succulent native to Mexico, featuring powder blue leaves with long red spines. It forms rosettes and occasionally offsets, remaining unblemished at 0°F in west Texas. This plant is drought-tolerant and suitable for rock gardens and xeriscaping.
Agave virginica
Agave virginica is a native deciduous agave with fleshy green leaves often spotted liver-purple. It produces 6-foot tall flower spikes with tubular purple flowers and yellow anthers. This drought-tolerant plant attracts hummingbirds and is suitable for rock gardens.
Agave victoriae-reginae
Agave victoriae-reginae, native to Mexico, is a slow-growing succulent known for its tight rosettes and thick, dark green leaves with dramatic white bands. It is drought-tolerant and requires full sun and well-draining soil. This plant is hardy in USDA zones 9-12 and blooms after 40 years, after which it dies.
Agave utahensis var. nevadensis
Agave utahensis var. nevadensis is a hardy succulent native to the southern Mohave Desert, thriving on limestone outcrops. It forms a small, slow-growing rosette with grey-blue foliage and large spines. This plant is well-suited for dry conditions and must be kept dry below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
Agave colorata
Agave colorata, also known as Mescal Ceniza, is a small succulent plant with striking blue-grey leaves that feature unique leaf imprints. Typically solitary, it can slowly form clumps and develop a short stem as it matures. This agave grows to a diameter of 1 to 3 feet and is native to northeastern Mexico. It thrives in full sun and is hardy in USDA zones 8 to 11. The plant is drought-tolerant and requires well-draining soil, making it suitable for xeriscaping. Its distinctive appearance and resilience to harsh conditions make it a popular choice for succulent gardens.
Agave macroacantha
Agave macroacantha, native to Oaxaca and Puebla, Mexico, is a medium-sized succulent with greyish-green leaves and sharp black spines. It produces small grey and red flowers on tall stems and prefers dry, sunny locations with well-drained soil. This plant has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit for its ornamental value.
Agave schottii
Agave schottii, or Schott's century plant, is a native of the Sonoran desert, characterized by its small rosettes of cylindrical green leaves with white markings. It forms colonies through offsets and produces tall flowering spikes. This plant is drought-tolerant and attracts a variety of pollinators, including bats and hummingbirds.
Agave chrysantha
Agave chrysantha is a large agave native to central Arizona, known for its grayish-yellow leaves and bright yellow flowers. It grows in volcanic cliffs and attracts hummingbirds.
Agave vilmoriniana
Agave vilmoriniana, or octopus agave, is a unique plant native to Mexico, recognized for its octopus-like shape. It grows up to 3 feet tall and blooms once with clusters of small yellow flowers. This agave prefers dry conditions and full sun, making it suitable for xeriscaping. It produces numerous plantlets for easy propagation.
Agave americana
Agave americana, often called the 'American aloe', is a striking succulent native to Mexico and the southern United States. It is known for its large, gray-green leaves with spiky edges and a sharp tip, which can grow up to 5 feet long. This plant is unique because it flowers only once in its lifetime, producing a tall stalk with yellow blooms before dying. It thrives in sunny, dry environments and is a popular choice for xeriscaping due to its drought tolerance. Agave americana has been used historically in Mexico to make pulque, a traditional alcoholic beverage, and its leaves provide fibers for textiles. Despite its common name, it is not related to the Aloe genus. The plant is also recognized for its ability to grow in various light conditions, from full sun to shade, and requires minimal watering. It has several subspecies and varieties, some of which have received accolades for their ornamental value.
Agave obscura
Agave obscura is a small, rarely suckering plant native to Mexican states, found on rocky outcrops. It forms a tight mound of green, small-spined leaves and produces a 15-foot tall flower spike of dark red flowers when mature.
Agave sileri
Agave sileri is a rare Texas native succulent forming a 1-foot wide rosette of blue leaves. It features bright purple-red spots and a narrow 5-foot tall stalk with yellow flowers in early summer. This plant is suitable for xeriscaping.
Agave salmiana ssp. ferox
Agave salmiana ssp. ferox is a striking succulent native to Oaxaca, Mexico, known for its particularly wide, thick, and stiff leaves. This variety of Agave salmiana features a terminal sting up to 3 inches long and sharper lateral spines, making it a dramatic addition to any garden. It thrives in sunny locations and is well-suited for xeriscaping due to its drought tolerance. The plant's robust structure and unique appearance make it a standout in tropical and desert-themed landscapes. It is also rabbit resistant, adding to its appeal as a low-maintenance ornamental plant.
Agave toumeyana
Agave toumeyana is a succulent native to central Arizona, forming dense clumps of rosettes with narrow, white-streaked foliage. Its flowering stalks can reach up to 10 feet, bearing greenish-white flowers. This plant is well-suited to rocky, limestone, and volcanic areas.
Agave parviflora
Agave parviflora is a dwarf agave with narrow, dark green leaves marked with white. It features a 5-foot tall bloom spike and produces cream or pale yellow flowers in summer. This rare species is endangered in Arizona and grows in semi-desert grasslands and oak woodlands.
Agave potatorum
Agave potatorum, native to Mexico, is a striking succulent known for its use in mezcal production. It forms a basal rosette with leaves up to 1 foot long, adorned with dark spines. This drought-tolerant plant can produce a flower spike reaching 10 to 20 feet, bearing pale green and yellow flowers. It is recognized for its ornamental value and has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Agave lechuguilla
Agave lechuguilla, a century plant native to the Chihuahuan Desert, is known for its large patches of thick, upright foliage. It flowers once in its lifetime, producing a tall stalk before dying, and reproduces through underground offshoots. The plant is used for making rope and fiber and is toxic to cattle and sheep.