Plants in genus agave
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 filifera
Agave filifera is a hardy, drought-tolerant plant that reproduces in numerous ways. It thrives in sunny areas with porous, well-draining soil and requires little watering. This plant can withstand freezing temperatures below 40°F.
Agave victoriae-reginae 'Kazo Bana'
Agave victoriae-reginae 'Kazo Bana' is a gold-edged form of agave with thick, dark green leaves bordered by butterscotch-gold. It grows to about 10 inches tall and 18 inches wide, making it a striking addition to rock gardens. This plant is hardy to Zone 7b and attracts hummingbirds.
Agave schidigera 'Bright Lights'
Agave schidigera 'Bright Lights' is a striking succulent with bright creamy leaf edges and white chalked-etchings on the leaf backs. This slower-growing specimen forms a non-offsetting clump 15 inches tall and 20 inches wide, making it suitable for container growth. It is drought-tolerant and thrives in sunny locations.
Agave lechuguilla 'El Paso'
Agave lechuguilla 'El Paso' is a hardy succulent native to the high elevations of El Paso, Texas. It features narrow, spiny-edged green leaves that form open rosettes and spread through underground rhizomes. This plant is notable for its prominent central banding, ranging from cream to gold, and its ability to thrive in both boggy acidic and dry alkaline soils.
Agave 'Desert Love'
Agave 'Desert Love' is a hybrid plant with foliage ranging from wide to narrow, featuring recurved leaf tips and spine patterns. It has mostly blue foliage and matures to 2 feet tall and 6 feet wide. This plant is drought-tolerant and suitable for rock gardens and xeriscaping.
Agave weberi 'Arizona Star'
Agave weberi 'Arizona Star' is a striking succulent with blue-green leaves edged in yellow, growing 4 feet tall and 7 feet wide. It features tiny spines along the leaf edge and attracts hummingbirds with its flowers.
Agave victoriae-reginae 'Sasanoyuki Shiro Fukurin'
Agave victoriae-reginae 'Sasanoyuki Shiro Fukurin' is a striking Japanese selection of a Mexican native plant. It forms fast-offsetting rosettes that can grow up to 15 inches tall and 3 feet wide over 5 to 10 years. The thick green leaves are adorned with white etchings and a creamy yellow border, making it a visually appealing addition to gardens. This agave requires good drainage in both summer and winter to thrive.
Agave 'Blue Rapture'
Agave 'Blue Rapture' is a cold-tolerant hybrid introduced in 2018, resulting from a cross between Agave ovatifolia and Agave flexispina. It is known for its vigorous growth and striking blue foliage. The plant reaches an estimated mature size of 2 feet tall and 5 feet wide, making it a substantial addition to gardens. Its resilience and unique appearance make it a popular choice for xeriscaping and rock gardens. Agave 'Blue Rapture' thrives in sunny locations and adds a touch of the exotic to any landscape.
Agave americana 'Mediopicta Alba'
Agave americana 'Mediopicta Alba' is a striking succulent with blue leaves and a broad central white stripe. It forms a 2-foot tall by 3-foot wide clump and is drought-tolerant, requiring ample light and well-draining soil. This plant is ideal for container gardening in colder zones and cannot tolerate temperatures below 40°F.
Agave guiengola 'Creme Brulee'
Agave guiengola 'Creme Brulee' is a fast-growing succulent native to Mexico, known for its rosettes of silvery-bluish leaves with a creamy white border. It grows up to 3-4 feet tall and is slightly frost-hardy, preferring filtered light and well-draining soil. This plant is ideal for xeriscaping and attracts hummingbirds with its inconspicuous yellow flowers.
Agave striata 'Live Wires'
Agave striata 'Live Wires' is a clonally-propagated cultivar from northern Mexico, featuring blue-grey leaves and an impressive 8-foot tall spike of tiny yellow flowers when mature. This plant is tolerant of cold winter climates and requires good drainage, making it suitable for xeriscaping and rock gardens.
Agave potatorum 'Kissho Kan'
This plant has variegated green and white fleshy leaves with pointed red tips and is native to Mexico. It is winter-dormant and reaches up to 2 feet in height, with purple or pink flowers in late autumn to winter. It needs well-drained soil and partial sunlight, with a frost tolerance of -4°C (24.8°F).
Agave 'Mr Ripple'
Agave 'Mr Ripple' is a striking plant from Mexico, possibly a natural hybrid of Agave salmiana. It forms a 5-foot tall by 8-foot wide clump of broad, blue-green leaves. This agave is drought-tolerant and attracts hummingbirds when in bloom, making it a standout in any garden.