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Agave (Century Plant)
We are fascinated by these architectural but anti-social southwest native plants. Some species thrive despite our hot, humid summers and cold, wet winters. Agaves are great in a rock garden, or otherwise sited in a hot, sunny area. In the summer months, agaves respond amazingly to water and fertilizer, but in the winter, good drainage and planting on any degree of slope is essential to winter survival. In cold zones, we recommend you establish (plant) the agaves early in the growing season (by midsummer at the latest) for best results. We are pleased to offer an increasing number of rare variegated selections that before now have been confined to the high-dollar collectors market.
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Agave americana 'Mediopicta Alba' (Century Plant)
Sun Zone: 8-10 24" tall Origin: Mexico
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This beautiful offsetting selection of the Mexican Agave americana makes a 2' tall x 3' wide clump, with each wide blue leaf highlighted with a wide, central stripe of white. A. americana 'Mediopicta Alba' is often used as a specimen container plant by gardeners in colder zones. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06288
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Agave americana 'Opal' (Century Plant)
SunZone: 8-10 36" tall Origin: Mexico
We originally got this from a customer in VA who claimed it to be winter hardy near Roanoke. Our plants did survive below 10 degrees F, but damage was too severe to claim it reliable in Zone 7b. It is one of the many yellow-edged Agave americana forms that are sold under the group name 'marginata'. This particular clone makes a large, upright clump of sharp-spined, blue-grey foliage with an attractive creamy-yellow edge. Our oldest clumps are 3' tall x 4' wide, but in warmer climates they will grow larger...great for summer containers. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06287
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Agave americana ssp. protoamericana 'Blue Steel' (Hardy Century Plant)
SunZone: 7-10 40" tall Origin: Mexico
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This vegetative selection of Agave americana var. protoamericana has been one of the best performers in our display garden. The wide, steel-blue, upright leaves form a tight rosette to 40" tall x 5' wide. This selection is a prolifically offsetting form that we grew from seed from a Yucca Do expedition near Victoria, Mexico (YD 45-80). For us, A. 'Blue Steel' has shown no winter damage to 9 degrees F. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04783
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Agave attenuata 'Kara's Stripes' PPAF (Kara's Stripes Foxtail Century Plant)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: tropical 36" tall Origin: Mexico
This stunning selection of the southern Mexican native Agave attenuata is perfect for a summer container or for your summer home in the tropics. This Gary Gragg selection boasts scrumptious spineless, golden rubbery leaves surrounded by a wide green border...quite an attention getter! With age, the clumps can reach 3' tall, at which time they are topped by their otherworldly spikes of yellow flowers. In extremely hot climates, light shade is recommended. FYI: This did enter the US legally, has a valid variegated card, and has applied for US citizenship. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07786
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Agave attenuata 'Raea's Gold' (Raea's Gold Agave)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: tropical 36" tall Origin: Mexico
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Agave attenuata 'Raea's Gold' is the solid gold sport of Agave 'Kara's Stripes' from California's Gary Gragg, who named the plant after his daughter. A. 'Raea's Gold' has soft spineless leaves, making it perfect for a mixed summer container. The color holds best in full sun, but becomes green when grown in shade. The clumps only reach 1' tall x 1' wide in a year, but where hardy, they can eventually reach 3' tall, at which time they are topped by their otherworldly spikes of yellow flowers. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07787
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Agave bracteosa (Bracted Century Plant)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7b-10 6" tall Origin: Mexico alternate image
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I was fortunate to see this amazing, un-agave-looking agave in the wild near Monterrey, Mexico, where it precariously hangs off lightly shaded, high cliffs. Eventually spreading to 2' wide, the easy-to-grow, user-friendly clump resembles large, gray-green spiders with NO spines. We recommend that these be planted on a slight slope to duplicate the great drainage that they receive in the wild. After 2-4 years, they will begin to form offsets, and when they mature, each clump will produce an amazing 5-7' tall flower spike that resembles a giant yellow bottlebrush! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04763
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Agave celsii 'Multicolor' (Multicolor Century Plant)
Sun to Part SunZone: 9-10, 8 with protection 12" tall Origin: Mexico
I first saw this gem at Holland's amazing Succulenta Nursery and later at specialty nurseries in Thailand, where it makes an architectural 1' tall x 18" wide clump. Agave celsii is a cloud forest species, native to North-central Mexico, although it seems quite happy growing here in full sun. The compact rosettes of glaucous upturned leaves are edged with a dramatic cream border...a superb container plant where it isn't quite winter hardy. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07922
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Agave 'Cornelius' (Cornelius Century Plant)
SunZone: 9-10, at least 18" tall Origin: unknown
I acquired this plant from the UC Botanic Garden at Berkeley after drooling so much they threatened to cart me away. The small 18" tall x 2.5' wide, rarely-suckering clump of unusually thick, wavy blue-green leaves are highlighted by a 2" wide golden border. Despite not being hardy here, it is one fine container plant and great for summer combinations. We have seen this listed as Agave americana, but a rare blue reversion looked nothing like A. americana. This plant goes by many invalid names such as 'Quasimodo', 'Incurva Marginata', and 'Marginata Aurea Monstrosa'. It does appear this plant originated somewhere in the CA collector market, but the actual origin is still unclear.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06289
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Agave dasylirioides (Sotol-leaf Century Plant)
SunZone: no idea 18" tall Origin: Mexico
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This small agave, related to Agave striata, can be found hanging from steep volcanic cliffs, up to 7,000' elevation in the southern Mexico state of Morelos. A. dasylirioides is a rarely available relict species that sits precariously on the farthest branches of the agave family tree. Each 18" tall x 2' wide clump is composed on narrow, linear leaves. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07920
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Agave falcata (Hardy Century Plant)
SunZone: 7-10 20" tall Origin: Mexico
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We purchased this plant many years ago, and it has survived two 0 degree F winters without any damage. Resembling A. striata, the long round pencil size green leaves arch outward to 20" from the central clump to form an impalingly perfect rosette. Our plant finally flowered (a 5' stalk of tiny white flowers), and these plants are grown from our seed. A row of these around the vegetable garden should work wonders to keep pesky creatures at bay. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #02328
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Agave ferdinandi-regis (King Ferdinand Century Plant)
SunZone: 7b-10, guessing 10" tall Origin: Mexico
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Agave ferdinandi-regis (yes, ferdinandi is spelled correctly) is often lumped by taxonomists with Agave victoriae-reginae, but A. ferdinandi-regis plants can be easily distinguished by more glaucous foliage, larger leaves, and larger terminal spines. Each tight, slow-growing clump will reach 10" tall x 18" wide. We'll let the taxonomists fight the name battle while we enjoy the plants in our garden. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04764
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Agave flexispina (Hardy Century Plant)
SunZone: 7b-9, at least 15" tall Origin: Mexico
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This rarely grown agave, related to A. palmeri and A. shrevei, struck my fancy when visiting the Ruth Bancroft Garden in CA. Hailing from 4500' to 7500' in the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Durango and Zacarecas, it shows good winter hardiness. The powder blue leaves with long red spines form rosettes that are often solitary but will offset occasionally once established. In cultivation, expect the clumps to reach 18" tall x 3' wide. Carl Schoenfeld tells us that in west TX, it was unblemished down to 0 degrees F. Agave flexispina holds great promise for garden use in warm temperate climates. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05766
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Agave gentryi 'Jaws' (Jaws Hardy Century Plant)
SunZone: 7b-10, at least 48" tall Origin: Mexico
This stunning Yucca Do selection, from 8,000' in the Nuevo Leon Province of Northern Mexico, is one of the most sought-after Agave selections. The rarely offsetting, glossy dark green 4' tall x 8' wide rosette is composed of long leaves with exceptionally deep sinuses between the short red teeth, resembling a shark mouth...a maxillofacial delight!
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06478
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Agave gracilipes (Hardy Century Plant)
SunZone: 6-9, possibly colder 12" tall Origin: USA
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It gets lonely at evening in the mountains of west TX and late one night on a mountain far, far away, a botanical liaison was consummated between Agave neomexicana and Agave lechuguilla. Despite their spiny personalities, their unexpected compatibility produced the species we now know as A. gracilipes. These rarely-offsetting intermediates produce leafy 1' tall x 18" wide rosettes of rigid grey-green leaves. Despite their preference for dry alkaline soils at 4000 to 6000', we have found them easy to grow in our climate. Seedlings are rarely available, so don't wait to acquire one of your own...each clone is unique. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06562
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Agave guiengola 'Creme Brulee' (Creme Brulee Century Plant)
Sun to Part SunZone: 9-10, guessing 18" tall Origin: Mexico
(syn: A. guiengola 'Marginata') We are pleased to make available this elegant collector plant, whose parent originated in the Guiengola limestone cliffs of Oaxaca (pronounced Wahaaka), Mexico. Since the name 'Marginata' has been invalid on plants named after 1959, we chose a new name, A. 'Creme Brulee'. This soft-leaf agave is simply elegant with wide, medium green leaves surrounded by a 1" border of creamy white. While the species can reach 3' tall x 4' wide, the variegation should slow it down considerably...we're guessing about 1/4 smaller. If anyone knows the origin of this cultivar, please let us know. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07563
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Agave havardiana (Hardy Century Plant)
SunZone: 5-9 20" tall Origin: USA alternate image
This medium- to large-sized century plant is native to rocky grassland slopes (often alkaline) from west TX into Mexico (4,000'-6,000' elevation). A. havardiana forms a 3-4' wide glaucous, single rosette (rarely offsetting) of thick spiny leaves to 20" long and 6" wide...a very hardy species if protected from winter moisture when temperatures fall below the 20s. Mature specimens are topped with stunningly massive 12' tall asparagus-looking flower spikes in the summer months. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05007
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Agave 'Kissho Kan' (Lucky Crown Century Plant)
SunZone: 9-10, guessing 15" tall Origin: Hybrid
(aka: A. sp. Kichiokan, A. potatorum 'Variegata') This Japanese selection of what we think is an old Mexican hybrid has been circulated by collectors under several misspellings. In Japanese, the word 'Kissho Kan' means happy (lucky) crown. The stunningly symmetrical rosette makes a perfect container specimen, forming an 15" tall x 18" wide, slowly offsetting clump. The blue grey leaves are bordered in creamy white. The leaf spines emerge yellow, then change to light brown and age to a dark cinnamon color...very cool! This is a very easy species to grow and when given plenty of light is tough-as-nails. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07376
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Agave lophantha coll. #AIM-025 (Hardy Century Plant)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7-10 15" tall Origin: Mexico alternate image
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This hardy agave has proven to be one of the easiest-to-grow in temperate climates. The 15" tall x 20" wide, dark green rosettes are highlighted with a creamy gold center stripe down each leaf -- brightest in spring and early summer. In loose soils, A. lophantha spreads nicely via underground rhizomes. We recommend these as rabbit deterrents...one solid row and varmints will impale themselves trying to get to something edible. I have grown Agave lophantha for two decades in our Raleigh garden, where it has survived 0 degrees F without damage. These plants are grown from seed collected during my expedition into the Mexican mountains. Our 10-year-old rosettes in the display garden are 15" x 20". Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04413
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Agave lophantha 'Quadricolor' (Quadricolor Century Plant)
Sun to Part SunZone: 8-10, guessing 18" tall Origin: Mexico
This agave is a WOW plant...a stunning selection of the ubiquitous Mexican Agave lophantha. This 18" tall x 2' wide selection is composed of 1' long x 2.5" wide leaves, each with a chartreuse yellow center, edged in green and surrounded by a pale green margin, which is then surrounded by a dramatic white border...hence, the name 'Quadricolor'. A. lophantha 'Quadricolor' makes a dazzling specimen either in a container or in the ground from Zone 8 south. It is a reasonably good offsetting species, so they'll be plenty to share...if you have a sharp knife, strong nerves, and a thick set of gloves. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07124
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Agave montana 'Baccarat' (Baccarat Hardy Century Plant)
SunZone: 7b-9, at least 24" tall Origin: Mexico
This splendid Yucca Do selection of the tough Agave montana was made in October 1997 from La Encantada in Mexico's Nuevo Leon Province at 9080' elevation. Agave 'Baccarat' makes a stunning 2' tall x 3' wide clump of broad, glaucous leaves, each ending in a large black spine. The stunning silvery bud imprints (not the beer memorabilia) on the leaf backs are reminiscent of cut crystal; hence, the plant was named after Baccarat fine crystal. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07191
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Agave 'Mr. Ripple' (Mr. Ripple Hardy Century Plant)
SunZone: 8-10, at least 60" tall Origin: Mexico
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(syn: Agave YD 13-74) This unusual agave comes from Ciudad de Maize, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, where it was spotted in 2001 by Yucca Do's Wade Roitsch. This species, or possibly a natural A. salmiana hybrid, is occasionally seen in TX and CA gardens...always unlabeled. This particular form makes a 5' tall x 8' wide, rapidly-growing clump with very undulating, broad, blue-green, soft-textured leaves...quite stunning when you run into one.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06507
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Agave multifilifera (Chahuiqui Century Plant)
SunZone: 8-10, at least 36" tall Origin: Mexico
This delightful Mexican agave, native up to 7,000' elevation in Durango, Chihuahua, and Sinaloa is closely allied with the better known A. filifera, except for, of course, more hairs. If the amount of hair now defines a species, bald guys watch out. From seed, our plants are wildly variable...some having filifers that would make 80's hair bands proud, to prematurely balding, to sorely in need of RogaineŽ. Mature 4'+ wide specimens of 2' long leaves can be mistaken for Yucca elata, except for the sturdy terminal spine. When old clumps develop more white hairs than you have, start looking for a 16' tall flower spike with cool green and pink flowers. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05656
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| <Acorus - Agastache] | [Agave II> |
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