Agaves and a few of their kin 1 Agave aff. parryi [Mt. Emory, AZ] Tightly clumping agave with seriously impressive leaves and extremely sharp spines. 3 ft tall and wide. Best in full sun with excellent drainage. Allow to dry in winter. Classic playground plant. Cold hardy to 0F - USDA zone 7. Agave americana Deriving its common name from the alleged time it takes to flower (actually 2 decades is typical), this somewhat less hardy agave is extremely handsome in a container. Meaty leaves with the previous leaf’s outline in relief. Full sun. Frost hardy to 15F - mid USDA zone 8 with good drainage. Widespread in Mexico and possibly the US southwest, though so long in cultivation that much of the original habitat is unknown. Agave americana ‘Aureovariegata’ Classic large agave, in cultivation for so long its origins are not entirely known. Certainly central to northern Mexico, this large, variegated form has leaves, eventually approaching 5 ft to 8 ft in the garden, with creamy yellow margins and dusted blue-green centers. One plant in Brookings, OR, measures 11 x 11 ft as a single rosette! In pots, they can be kept much smaller and are quick to exhibit the beautiful and classic, curved agave shape. USDA zone 9 and, with protection such as dry areas under eaves or particularly dry climates, zone 8. Agave americana 'Cornelius' Miniature form of the monstrous Century Plant, forming rosettes to under 2 ft, each leaf centered green with pleasing cream to gold leaf margins. In stunted form gives whole plant the appearance of a star. Frost hardy to upper USDA zone 8 or a bit colder if dry and under an the eaves or another protected spot in winter. Either way a fabulous pot plant. Full sun. Agave americana - dwarf The blue version of the oft sought after Agave americana ‘Mediopicta’. This picturesque plant grows to about 4 ft, freely offsetting. Every so lightly more frost hardy than typical - to the low to mid teens - USDA zone 8, even lower if dry. Some summer water with winter drought if possible. Otherwise typical century plant care. Agave americana 'Mediopicta Alba' Beautifully variegated diminutive form, the rosettes spreading to no more than 2-3 ft with beautifully curved leaves, a dusty blue-green centered with wide creamy stripes. Slowly offsetting. As luck would have it one of the forms hardier to frost with plants surviving 10 to 15F - USDA zone 8 - in winter dry soil. Pull in or cover below 20F or so in areas of winter wet. Sean Hogan • Cistus Design and Nursery • 22711 NW Gillihan Rd • Sauvie Island, Ore 97231 • (503) 621-2233 • www.cistus.com Agaves and a few of their kin 2 Agave americana 'Opal' A variegated agave from the larger group often just called Marginata’ or ‘Variegata,’ this one most pleasingly variegated in creamy yellow on upright, blue-green foliage with sharp spines. To 4-5 ft tall and wide. Shared with us by plantsman Tony Avent as having been hardy in coastal Virginia. Though it has been nuked in North Carolina below 10F with winter moisture, it does show promise as being one of the tougher of the americana group as a very similar plant has grown unharmed in Portland gardens for a number of years. We expect at least 15F, mid USDA zone 8, and possibly lower if winter dry. In any zone a striking pot or container plant. Sun, well-drained soil, and little summer water. Agave americana ssp. protoamericana A robust, stout, particularly silver-blue form from northeastern Mexico, the 6 ft or larger rosettes have proven a bit more moisture and cold resilient than its cousins. Surviving temperatures of 10 to 15F with good drainage, it reaches its greatest potential in large containers or in the open ground. Makes a fine focal point. Agave americana - typical form A plant so long in cultivation that it's wild origins are uncertain. Often seen in the US Southwest and along the West Coast as well as in dry and Mediterranean climates worldwide. Open arching silver-blue rosettes to 6 ft or more, eventually offsetting to form colonies. This fast growing century plant makes a fine and picturesque pot specimen and can be kept smaller by being root bound. Provide excellent drainage and full sun. Hardy to 15ºF or so. Agave americana ‘Variegata’ Striking plant with beautiful curved, blue leaves edged in rich cream. Fine in pots or as an imposing garden icon where winter temperatures seldom dive to below 20ºF - USDA zone 9 - for any length of time; has survived 8F with dry, overhead protection. A plant in Brookings, OR measures 10 x 10 ft. after 10 years. Agave attenuata 'Nova' Striking blue form of this classic warm climate species from coastal southwest Mexico. Great indoor/outdoor houseplant to about 2 ft, slowly forming a trunk with, eventually, a tall arching flower stalk. A lover of moisture but, as with all agaves, requires good drainage. Can be planted outside where temperatures rarely fall below 28F - upper USDA zone 9. Agave 'Blue Glow' Handsome, small agave, its stiff leaves, 1-1.5" wide, blue-green with red margins edged with yellow and a red terminal spine -- particularly lovely when backlit. Plants are small, 1-2 ft tall and wide a maturity. This hybrid between A. ocahui and A. attenuata, created by Kelly Griffin, is solitary, enjoying full sun, good drainage, and little summer water. Frost hardy to at least 15F, mid USDA zone 8 --- always with good drainage -- and possibly lower. Sean Hogan • Cistus Design and Nursery • 22711 NW Gillihan Rd • Sauvie Island, Ore 97231 • (503) 621-2233 • www.cistus.com Agaves and a few of their kin 3 Agave bovicornuta From a few locations in Sonora’s western Sierra Madre Occidental this 3-4 ft, acid-green sculpture has most unique fluted and tuped margins. Offsets only sparsely. Happy with dappled shade especially in hottest climates as long as wet leaves do not collect in the rosette center. A beautiful container plant, frost hardy into the upper teens to low 20s F - upper USDA zone 8 to zone 9. Agave bracteosa Looking more like a bromeliad, this agave’s lax, spineless leaves are very choice. Polycarpic and rare in cultivation, plants love the cool summer nights of the Northwest. Found clinging to the high rocky mountains between Saltillo and Monterrey in NE Mexico growing with pines and, yes, even Douglas fir. Half sun. Frost hardy to 10F - USDA zone 8, when dry in winter. Agave bracteosa ‘Calamar’ Looking more like a bromeliad, an agave with lax, spineless leaves that are very choice and, in this form, consistently blue-tinted with fewer offsets than the species. Polycarpic and rare in cultivation, plants love the cool summer nights of the Northwest. Found clinging to the high rocky mountains between Saltillo and Monterrey in NE Mexico growing with pines and, yes, even Douglas fir. This form was selected by Texas plantsman Pat McNeal. Half sun. Frost hardy to 10F, USDA zone 8. Agave ‘Burnt Burgundy’ Probable hybrid of A. victoriae-reginae and A. pelona, from Gregg Star, chosen it for its unusual smooth, dark-margined leaves tinted burgundy. Small, to only a 1 ft to 18", and slowly clumping. Frost hardiness so far to a little under 20F - just below USDA zone 9 - in our now Eucalyptus shaded agave patch, but a fine pot specimen in colder climates. Full to part sun. Eucalyptus mulch optional. Agave celsii From the mountains of eastern and northeastern Mexico., handsome 2 ft rosettes of fleshy, celadon-green leaves. This agave is particularly good in light shade or with slightly heavier soils than most. Quick to offset and form a mound looking a little bit like maturing heads of cabbage -- at least to us. These plants represent collections from Carl and Wade at Yucca Do, from over 5,000' in the northern part of its range. For us, it has been reliable into the low 20sF and could go lower. Agave celsii 'Multicolor' Coming to us from Holland, land of specialty succulent collectors, this handsome plant is found in northeastern Mexico, in the Sierra Madre Orientale where it inhabits fog-shrouded cliffs at over 5,000 ft. In this form, upright, blue-gray leaves edge in cream form rosettes to 18" tall and wide, eventually offsetting to form archtiectural clumps. A good garden plant where temperatures remain above 15 to 18F, mid USDA zone 8, in full sun to part shade. Surprisingly shade tolerant if not too wet in the cool season. A wonderful container specimen anywhere. Sean Hogan • Cistus Design and Nursery • 22711 NW Gillihan Rd • Sauvie Island, Ore 97231 • (503) 621-2233 • www.cistus.com Agaves and a few of their kin 4 Agave cerulata From Baja California and highly variable, this collection having 18” to 2 ft rosettes of narrow, chalky blue leaves margined with dark spines. Accustomed to either winter or summer rainfall but with excellent drainage and bright light. Offsetting to form small colonies. In most climates best suited as pot plants or outside in a very well drained situation and where temperatures seldom fall to 20F. Agave dasylirioides New and obscure little century plants from Oaxaca appear almost as sea urchins perched on their jagged limestone habitat. Each plant to about 6” or so with narrow, quill-like leaves of dusty blue green. Flower spikes, reaching to 8 ft or higher on mature plants, signal the end of the rosette. Hardy only into the low 20sF - USDA zone 9 - but a beautiful and manageable pot specimen. Agave deserti var.