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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. 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. In containers, agaves are not only very forgiving if a watering is missed, but they provide a great structural form. 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 'Opal' (Opal Century Plant)
Sun Zone: 8-10 36" tall Origin: Mexico
We originally got this from a customer in Virginia 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 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 72" tall Origin: Mexico
Open House/Web-Only!
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 6' tall x 10' 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' PP 19,444 (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 bracteosa 'Monterrey Frost' (Monterrey Frost Century Plant)
Part Sun to Light ShadeZone: 8-10, at least 12" tall Origin: Mexico
NEW!
New crop available 01-01-2010 It was lust at first sight when I saw this plant in California's Quail Botanical Garden. This rare form of the northern Mexican A. bracteosa has been passed along in California collectors' circles for more than a decade, but is rarely available to the general public. The frozen squid-like architectural rosette of sandpapery green foliage is edged with a perfect creamy-white margin, eventually producing a 1' tall x 18" wide specimen that will offset sporadically after it matures. A. bracteosa actually enjoys part shade, which also keeps the white edge from scorching. Where this isn't winter hardy, it makes a stunning unarmed specimen plant. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #08537
SOLD OUT
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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. This is a small 18" tall x 2.5' wide, rarely-suckering clump of unusually thick, wavy blue-green leaves highlighted by 2" wide golden borders. 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'. A. 'Cornelius' was discovered by the late Dr. Cornelius of California.
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
Open House/Web-Only!
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 difformis (Deformed Century Plant)
SunZone: 8-10, at least 18" tall Origin: Mexico
Agave difformis is a relative of the easy-to-grow A. lophantha and A. lechuguilla that hails from elevations of 5,000-6,000' in Hidalgo and San Luis Potosi in north central Mexico. Agave difformis makes a 18" tall x 2' wide freely suckering clump composed of wavy, medusa-like upright green leaves, often highlighted by a wide central silver stripe...we really like this. Our plants are seed grown, so each is different in the amount of silver striping. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06701
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Agave ferdinandi-regis (King Ferdinand Century Plant)
SunZone: 7b-10, guessing 10" tall Origin: Mexico
Open House/Web-Only!
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 funkiana 'Hakuro Shiro Fukurin' (Hakuro Shiro Fukurin Century Plant)
SunZone: 8-10, guessing 18" tall Origin: Mexico
NEW!
(syn: Agave lophantha 'Marginata') We originally acquired this rare selection from Thailand as an Agave lophantha, which it is obviously not...we're betting on A. funkiana. The 18" long x 1" wide upright shallowly grooved leaves are dark green and edged with a dramatic wide white border. The few scattered teeth along the leaf edges turn papery and fall away as the leaves age. A. 'Hakuro Shiro Fukurin' (translated as "frosty white margin") makes a stunning 18" tall x 3' wide clump. We lost this in the garden at 9 degrees F on trial #1, so we're listing it as a Zone 8 plant until we kill more. These are slow growers in containers. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #08538
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Agave garciae-mendozae (Garcia Mendoza Century Plant)
SunZone: 8-10, guessing 18" tall Origin: Mexico
Open House/Web-Only!
This new species from Central Mexico, described in 2002, is named in honor of Mexican botanist Abisai Garcia-Mendoza. A. garciae-mendozae is reportedly similar to A. horrida ssp. perotensis, forming a dark green 2' wide rosette, adorned with small reddish spines. Our supply is limited as we are growing a few for trial and offering the rest to our customers.
Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #08368
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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 gentryi x montana La Escondida form PDN #01 (La Escondida Century Plant)
SunZone: 8-10, possibly colder 36" tall Origin: Mexico alternate image
NEW!
We purchased these seeds (wild collected from the La Escondida in Mexico's Nuevo Leon province) as A. gentryi, but after examining the parent photos and growing the plants, we are convinced they are A. montana, probably with some A. gentryi intergrades. Expect thick, glossy green-leaved attractive rosettes to 3' tall x 4' wide. Supplies are very limited. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #08450
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Agave gracilipes (Hardy Century Plant)
SunZone: 6-9, possibly colder 12" tall Origin: USA
Open House/Web-Only!
It gets lonely at evening in the mountains of west Texas 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 4,000' to 6,000', 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. A. 'Creme Brulee' was discovered by California agave specialist, Kelly Griffin. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07563
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Agave gypsophila (Gypsum Century Plant)
SunZone: tropical 24" tall Origin: Mexico
Open House/Web-Only!
I couldn't believe this was really an agave when I first saw an image taken at a garden in Thailand. The grey-blue heavily ripped leaves and small closely-set teeth make this stunning 2' tall x 3' wide conversation piece look more like a cross of an agave and a bromeliad. Hailing from calcarous soils including pure gypsum in southern Mexico, A. gypsophila is easy-to-grow, but is best treated as a tropical houseplant in cold climates. Our offerings are divisions from an exceptionally nice clone...a very limited supply. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #08318
SOLD OUT
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Agave havardiana (Hardy Century Plant)
SunZone: 5-9 20" tall Origin: USA
Open House/Web-Only!
This medium- to large-sized century plant is native to rocky grassland slopes (often alkaline) from west Texas 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
SOLD OUT
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Agave havardiana Davis Mts, TX coll. #IB278 (Hardy Century Plant)
SunZone: 6-9, at least 20" tall Origin: USA
NEW!
This collection of the US native Agave havardiana comes from an Ian Barclay collection in the Davis Mountains of Texas at 6,200', where these form compact, 20" tall x 2' wide solitary grey rosettes. As with most agaves, excellent winter drainage and planting on a slope will greatly enhance survival. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #08367
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Agave havardiana Raulston Arboretum Form (Hardy Century Plant)
SunZone: 6b-9, at least 36" tall Origin: USA Hybrid
Open House/Web-Only!
For many years, the JC Raulston Arboretum in Raleigh, NC featured a huge Agave havardiana that finally flowered in 2003. The huge 25' tall spike set seed and is the source of our plants. The blue-grey rosette was quite large (3' tall x 5' wide) for A. havardiana, leading us to think that it was possibly a hybrid with Agave scabra. This is a very limited opportunity to obtain offspring of this fine plant. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #05933
SOLD OUT
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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 'Kissho Kan Nishiki' (Lucky Crown Brocade Century Plant)
SunZone: tropical 15" tall Origin: Hybrid
Open House/Web-Only!
This rarely offered sport of Agave 'Kissho Kan' forms an 15" tall x 18" wide rosette of chartreuse golden leaves, surrounded by a wide light green border. It is a very sparing producer of pups as it ages, therefore we only have a few of these to share. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07617
SOLD OUT
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Agave lechuguilla (Tampico Fiber Century Plant)
SunZone: 8-10, guessing 12" tall Origin: USA
Open House/Web-Only!
This species of century plant has one of the widest ranges, being found on alkaline soils from southern New Mexico and Texas south to southern Mexico, usually at elevations between 2,000 and 7,500'. The fast-suckering plants form large patches of thick upright 1' long glaucous green foliage, often with a faint central stripe on the back of the leaf. Agave lechuguilla is used in Mexico to make rope, fiber, train obstacle course horseback riders, and make steroids....should be popular with a number of professional athletes. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07625
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Agave lophantha 'Band Aid' (Band Aid Hardy Century Plant)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7-10, at least 20" tall Origin: Mexico
Open House/Web-Only!
We got this large growing selection of the wide-leaved form of Agave lophantha from Rick Nowakowski (not to be confused with the German Olympic boxing medalist) of Nature's Curiosity Shop. The tight growing 20" tall x 30" wide rosettes are composed of wide dark-green leaves, highlighted with a central band of yellow. It does not offset nearly as rapidly as typical A. lophantha. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #06292
SOLD OUT
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Agave lophantha coll. #AIM-025 (Hardy Century Plant)
Sun to Part SunZone: 7-10 15" tall Origin: Mexico
Open House/Web-Only!
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 lophantha 'Splendida' (Splendida Hardy Century Plant)
SunZone: 7-10, at least 11" tall Origin: Mexico
Open House/Web-Only!
This splendid form of the vigorous Agave lophantha came to us from plantsman Ted Stephens of Nurseries Caroliniana and forms the smallest rosettes of any of the wide-leaf forms of A. lophantha that we grow. Each 11" tall x 18" wide rosette is composed of fat 7" long x 2" wide leaves. The dark green, heavily armed leaves are highlighted by a wide central yellow stripe on the top and even wider on the leaf back. This is a suckering species, but the offsets are held close to the parent rosette. When the clump is old enough, it will be topped with a 12' tall, 1" diameter flower spike holding manfreda-like spidery flowers. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #08014
SOLD OUT
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Agave macroacantha 'Blue Ribbon' (Blue Ribbon Century Plant)
SunZone: 9-10 12" tall Origin: Mexico
This beautiful agave hails from the Mexican state of Puebla, where it makes tight, suckering 1' tall x 18" wide rosettes of blue finger-like leaves, tipped with a wicked terminal black spine. This wonderful form adds another layer of beauty with a creamy edge around each leaf...simply splendid! In areas where it isn't winter hardy, it makes a superb container specimen. Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #07568
SOLD OUT
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Agave montana 'Baccarat' (Baccarat Hardy Century Plant)
SunZone: 7b-9, at least 24" tall Origin: Mexico
Open House/Web-Only!
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 9,080' 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
Open House/Web-Only!
(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 Texas and California 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 '80s 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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Agave neomexicana (New Mexico Hardy Century Plant)
SunZone: 6-10 24" tall Origin: USA
New crop available 3-4-2010 From southern New Mexico and west Texas comes this medium-sized agave. A. neomexicana makes rosettes of blue-green foliage to 1' long. A. neomexicana forms suckering offsets around the base of the mother plant...a very elegant specimen for the hot rock garden. In spring, a mature 2' wide specimen may be topped with a gigantic 10' tall flower spike adorned with cloudlike yellow tufts of flowers on both sides of the stalk....bizarre! Pot size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml) #04775
SOLD OUT
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| <Acorus - Agastache] | [Agave II> |
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