Agave Varieties

4. Plant Description and Characteristics:

Agave obscura is a relatively large agave, typically forming rosettes that can reach 1.2 to 1.8 meters (4 to 6 feet) in height and width at maturity. It is a monocarpic species, which means it flowers only once in its lifetime, dying shortly after seed distribution. The leaves are a key feature, distinguished by their dark green or blue-green color, lance-like shape, thickness, and fleshy texture. The margins of these leaves are a standout characteristic, lined with short, dark, and sharply pointed spines, providing a visual and tactile warning. In intense sunlight, the leaves can adopt distinct red tinges, adding further visual interest to the plant. When flowering, it produces a tall, imposing inflorescence (flower stalk) that can reach 4-6 m (13-20 feet) in height, with yellowish flowers and horizontal branching.

4. Plant Description and Characteristics
Agave parryi var. truncata is a compact agave, forming a symmetrical rosette that typically reaches 1-2 feet in height and 2-3 feet in diameter at maturity. Its slow growth rate contributes to its appeal as a desirable, relatively low-maintenance plant. The leaves are thick, fleshy, and rigid, contributing to the plant’s distinctly architectural quality. They are a striking blue-gray, often exhibiting a subtle dusting of glaucous wax that enhances their visual appeal. Broadly lanceolate to ovate, the leaves are characterized by their rounded, blunt (truncated) tips, a defining feature that differentiates them from other Agave species. This contrasts notably with the sharp terminal spines often found in other Parryi agaves, such as A. parryi. The leaf margins are lined with small, reddish-brown teeth, adding a textural element to the rosette, although these are typically less prominent than in other species. The rosette’s tightly packed form is maintained even as the plant matures, giving it a consistently neat and orderly appearance, and subtle and interesting markings are sometimes present on the leaves.

Agave obscura ‘Xalapa’ is a truly majestic agave, characterized by some features, including:

• Size and Growth Habit: This agave forms a dense, symmetrical rosette, reaching a mature height of approximately 60-90 cm (2-3 feet) and a similar width. It typically displays a solitary growth habit, forming a single, impressive plant that is slow growing, making for a beautiful and long impact.
• Leaf Characteristics: The leaves are thick, rigid, fleshy, and somewhat fleshy, exhibiting a lanceolate (spear-like) shape that tapers to a sharp, dark tip. They generally range from a dark, almost blue-green hue, and can display some lighter-green coloration. The margins of the leaves are usually smooth or feature small, reddish-brown teeth. Spines are found at the tip of the leaves, typically small, and dark brown or black in color.
• Flower Characteristics: The Agave obscura ‘Xalapa’ is a monocarpic plant. It flowers only once in its lifetime, typically after many years of growth, sometimes a decade or more. The flower stalk, known as a scape, can ascend to a significant height, bearing a panicle or spike of yellow flowers. After flowering, the plant dies, but it will often produce offsets before its demise.
• Unique Features: One of the most attractive unique selling points of the ‘Xalapa’ variant is its colder temperature tolerance than many other Agave varieties, which makes it an attractive potential plant for areas with colder climates. Its rosette form tends to be denser and more compact than some similar species, giving it a truly unique silhouette.

4. Plant Description and Characteristics

Agave parryi x Agave flexispina showcases the combined traits of its parent species, making it a visually appealing and diverse plant. From a landscape design perspective, it provides a captivating contrast through its leaf colors, spine patterns, and overall form. The hybrid’s variation in leaf color is one of its greatest appeals, ranging from blue-grey to grey, which is more in line with Agave parryi, the margins are often adorned with prominent, dark brown or black spines that are often lighter and softer than those seen with Agave parryi. This combination of color and striking edge definition creates a focal point, contributing to the overall aesthetic appeal.

3. Common Names and Etymology

Agave ocahui var. ocahui doesn’t have an abundance of common names, likely due to its more restricted geographic distribution and less intense cultivation compared to better-known agave species. Common names include:

• Ocahui Agave: This name is derived directly from the scientific name, reflecting its origin.
• Lechuguilla: In some regions of northern Mexico and the southwest United States, this name is sometimes used, although it is more commonly used for other Agave species.

The scientific name, "Agave ocahui var. ocahui," indicates its lineage within the Agave genus and its specific location of origin. "Agave" (from Greek agavos or agaue meaning "noble" or "admirable") and "ocahui" refers to the town of Ocahui, located in the county of Bacoachi along with the Mexican state of Sonora, where the plant was first described. "Ocahui" in the varietal name signifies that it is a variant of the species Agave ocahui.

3. Common Names and Etymology

While often referred to by the scientific binomial Agave ornithobroma, a common name is "Bird-Breathing Agave", this common name stems from the specific epithet "ornithobroma," a combination of Greek words. "Ornitho" likely refers to birds and is very commonly used when referring to birds and their environment. "Broma" likely refers to food or eating and can be found in many plant names. The meaning refers to the possible traditional usage of the plant to birds as a food source, or the potential for birds to somehow utilize the plant (such as in nesting) or for the observation of birds associated with the plant. These elements combine to give an impression of this connection to a bird habitat that would have been used on plants growing on the edges of bird habitat within the agave’s local areas. The common name may likely have arisen as an accurate and observant method of reflecting the plant’s characteristics in particular locations.

4. Plant Description and Characteristics

Agave oroensis reveals elegance in its form.

Agave ortgiesiana is a rosette-forming succulent, typically growing to be about 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) tall and wide at maturity, though in ideal conditions, it can larger. The overall shape is symmetrical, with a dense arrangement of leaves originating from a central crown.

• Leaf Characteristics: The leaves are broad and lanceolate (shaped like a lance head), typically a vibrant green or bluish-green. The most striking feature is the red or crimson margin that extends along the entire edge of each leaf. Leaf edges have no teeth or spines early in its life, but may develop small, irregular teeth as it matures. The leaf shape is generally flat, slightly curved, and somewhat fleshy.

From the dry, mountainous heart of Durango, Mexico, emerges the magnificent Agave oteroi, a living sculpture often admired for its perfect symmetry and compelling textures. While a relative newcomer to widespread cultivation, this agave, with its slow, deliberate growth – often only a few new leaves per year – and compact form, is rapidly gaining a reputation as a highly prized addition to any succulent garden or xeriscape. Its striking pale green to grey-green leaves, often edged with delicate reddish-brown teeth, create a truly unforgettable aesthetic, making this plant both a visual delight and a testament to nature’s artistry.

4. Plant Description and Characteristics

Agave ovatifolia is a large succulent perennial that forms a majestic rosette. Mature plants can reach up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in height and 8 feet (2.4 meters) in width. The growth habit is slow and steady, with the plant gradually increasing in both size and grandeur over many years if undisturbed. The leaves are a striking blue-grey color, often described as glaucous, offering a hazy, frosted appearance. They are thick, fleshy, and broad, ranging from 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 meters) in length and 1 foot (0.3 meters) wide. Their shape is typically broad and ovate (egg-shaped), narrowing slightly towards the base. The margins are smooth, lacking teeth or spines except for a small, sharp terminal spine at the apex of each leaf, which is usually brownish-red. As the plant ages, the leaves gently curve, adding to their graceful form. Following flowering (which occurs only once in its lifetime after several decades), the parent plant dies, but often produces offsets (pups) at the base before its demise. These offsets are essentially clones of the parent plant. The striking color of the leaves, combined with their unique form and the plant’s eventual flowering stature, truly make this agave a standout specimen. The lack of prominent teeth or spines along the margins makes it a relatively forgiving agave to manage in landscaping; its overall form looks striking and contrasts any other landscaping scheme nicely.