Agave Varieties

4. Plant Description and Characteristics

Agave salomonii is a relatively compact agave, forming a symmetrical rosette that generally reaches a mature height and width of only 0.6 to 1 meter (2 to 3.3 feet). Its overall shape is globose to slightly elongated, making it a striking visual impact.

4. Plant Description and Characteristics

Agave pendula is a relatively fast-growing agave, developing a clumping rosette habit, contrasting with the solitary form seen in other species, often growing into a thick cluster of plants. Its unique form makes it stand out.

• Size and Growth Habit: Mature plants typically reach a height and width of around 3-4 feet (0.9-1.2 meters), although its weeping habit can make the plant appear larger, cascading over a planting pot creating a beautiful and natural aesthetic. It forms offsets from the base, creating a cluster over time.
• Leaf Characteristics: The leaves are lanceolate (spear-shaped) and slightly succulent, with a vibrant green color that can develop a reddish tinge in full sun. Their most distinctive feature is their pendulous (weeping) nature, with the tips gracefully arching downwards, creating a graceful cascade that enhances the texture and interest of any landscape. The margins are usually smooth, and the tips do not have spines, which adds to its elegance.
• Flower Characteristics: While Agave pendula does flower, it is not frequently observed in cultivation. The flowering stalk arises from the center of the plant and can reach up to 10-15 feet (3-4.5 meters) in height. The flowers are greenish-yellow and tubular. The plant is monocarpic, meaning it flowers once and dies afterward, though the offsets continue to live, ensuring the plant lives on, creating a visually appealing pattern.
• Unique Features: The weeping leaf habit and the relatively fast growth rate distinguish Agave pendula from many other Agave species, which often feature stiffer, spined leaves and considerably slower growth. The lack of spines on the leaves also lends the plant its elegant appeal, making it a safer option for gardens with children or pets, yet still providing a striking and exotic visual appeal, creating a plant to be observed across the landscape.

Agave scaposa stands out with its small, compact form, creating a dense rosette which gives it a squat appearance, with plants reaching a height of around 1 to 2 feet (30-60 cm) and a width of 2 to 3 feet (60-90 cm) at maturity. The leaves are somewhat fleshy in appearance, and tend to be a grey-green color. The leaves are wide, usually ovate in shape, and often possess a slightly undulating margin, which adds to the plant’s visual interest. The margins are often also lined with small, reddish-brown teeth giving the leaf a somewhat jagged edge. At the apex of each leaf is a sharp, dark brown terminal spine, serving as a defense mechanism. Agave scaposa is monocarpic – it flowers only once in its lifetime, after which the main rosette dies. The flower stalk emerges from the center of the plant, reaching up to 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 meters) tall. The flowers are usually bell-shaped yellow or greenish, which bloom during a mid-summer season. A distinct feature of Agave scaposa is its relatively short, stout trunk compared to other agave species, which sets it apart and adds to its compact appearance.

4. Plant Description and Characteristics:

Agave petrophila is generally a smaller to medium-sized agave, forming attractive rosettes. The leaves are thick, fleshy, and generally a vibrant green color, sometimes with a slightly bluish hue, especially in full sun. The leaves are lanceolate to slightly ovate, with a smooth surface texture and margins that are typically smooth or only slightly toothed. The tip of the leaves are generally without spines, which can be a strong distinguishing factor. Leaf arrangements are typically radial, meaning they come out from the center of the plant. This lack of spines or teeth along the leafe margins is the most obvious characteristic distinguishing Agave petrophila from many other agaves, which are generally considered quite spiney, and makes the plant relatively safe to handle.

Plant Description and Characteristics

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Agave polianthiflora distinguishes itself through its compact and orderly growth habit.

4. Plant Description and Characteristics

Agave potatorum is famed for its attractive, compact and architectural silhouette. Its leaves are thick, fleshy, broad, and broadly ovate. They are typically grey-green to bluish-green in colour, often with a powdery "bloom" coating. But it is the leaf margins that give it true distinction. They are usually adorned with small, sharp, reddish-brown teeth or spines that are very evenly spaced; the spines along the tips being particularly pronounced. Some cultivars exhibit attractive variegation, adding to their ornamental value, making this agave both visually striking and easy to incorporate into various design concepts.

4. Plant Description and Characteristics

• Agave potatorum ‘Purple Haze’ is a striking succulent known for its compact and symmetrical form. The most notable feature is the vibrant purple and green leaf coloration, which sets it apart from other species, as well as the compact, symmetrical form provides a strong design aesthetic. The overall form exudes a sense of both elegance and durability, making it a visual centerpiece in any landscape.

4. Plant Description and Characteristics

The hallmark of Agave potatorum ‘Verschaffeltii’ lies in its exquisitely symmetrical rosette, a testament to nature’s elegance. This compact, slow-growing succulent rarely exceeds 2.5 feet in height and width, forming a dense, rounded silhouette prized by landscapers. Its defining feature is undoubtedly the leaf – thick, fleshy, and a captivating dusty blue-green hue. The edges are meticulously adorned with reddish-brown teeth and culminate in a sharp terminal spine, adding a touch of formality. However, it’s the markings that truly set this cultivar apart. Young plants display striking marginal mottling, often dark brown or reddish-brown, that subtly fades as the agave matures, a visual evolution that adds to its allure. The leaf surface itself often has a textured feel.

4. Plant Description and Characteristics

Agave parrasana is a slow-growing, symmetrical succulent plant. Its leaves are thick, fleshy, and lanceolate (lance-shaped), gradually curving inwards. They are typically a striking blue-grey color, sometimes tinged with red or purple, especially in cooler conditions. The margins of the leaves are lined with stout, dark reddish-brown to black teeth and end in a sharp, terminal spine. The tightly-packed, near-perfectly symmetrical rosette and the distinctive blue-grey coloration with contrasting spines make Agave parrasana a highly sought-after plant, providing visual intrigue. In addition, the tightly formed spherical head differentiates it from many other agaves.

4. Plant Description and Characteristics

Agave parryi subsp. parryi is a striking and imposing succulent, forming a symmetrical rosette that exudes a sense of bold design. Its leaves, a captivating gray-green, often display a subtle bluish or silvery hue, adding to their visual appeal. Each leaf is a work of art, varying in shape from the lance-like to the egg-like (ovate), with a slightly cupped profile, offering a sense of dynamic texture. The margins of the leaves are often lined with small, reddish-brown teeth, culminating in a formidable, sharp terminal spine. The overall effect is a plant that is strikingly architectural and robust, creating a strong visual impact.