Agaves are exotic, deer-resistant, drought-tolerant plants. We are fascinated by these architectural but anti-social Southwest native plants that are first cousins to hostas. Agaves are called century plants since many species take 100 years to flower in the wild. In cultivation with adequate summer moisture, most agaves flower between 10 and 15 years of age. When they do flower, they attract hummingbirds. Only a limited number of agaves thrive outdoors here in our hot, humid summers and cold, wet winters. In the summer months, agaves respond amazingly to water and organic fertilizer but in the winter, good drainage on a sloped site is essential for agave survival. In cold zones, we recommend establishing agave plants early in the growing season (by midsummer at the latest) for best results. When grown in pots, agaves will grow to the size of the container, but remember that containerized century plants must be brought indoors when temperatures drop below freezing.
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We are pleased to offer an increasing number of rare, variegated agave cultivars that until recently have been confined to the high-dollar collectors' market. Select carefully when planting your new agave, because some can get quite large...i.e. Agave salmiana and Agave protoamericana, which can grow to be 4 to 8 feet wide. When you are ready to buy agaves for your garden or containers, we hope you will check out our list of agave century plants for sale below.
Since 1988, Plant Delights Nursery has been the choice of serious gardeners and plant collectors looking for the best and rarest perennial plants. We are pleased to have received the Perennial Plant Association Retail Award in 2011, the American Horticulture Society Commercial Award in 2002, and to have been selected as one of the Best Mail Order Plant Sources - Garden Design Magazine 2010. Welcome to our family of plant lovers!
This beautiful, but slowly 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. Agave americana 'Mediopicta Alba' is often used as a specimen container plant by gardeners in colder zones. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
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. Agave blooms attract hummingbirds. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This Plant Delights clonal 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 we grew from seed from a Yucca Do expedition near Victoria, Mexico (YD 45-80). For us, Agave 'Blue Steel' has shown minimal winter damage at 9 degrees F. Agave blooms attract hummingbirds. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Agave attenuata 'Kara's Stripes' is a stunning selection of the southern Mexican native Agave attenuata that 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: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
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, Agave bracteosa 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: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
It was lust at first sight when I saw Agave bracteosa 'Monterrey Frost' in California's San Diego Botanic Garden. This rare form of the northern Mexican Agave 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. Agave bracteosa actually enjoys part shade, which also keeps the white edge from scorching. The white edge reduces the winter-hardiness, so where this isn't winter hardy, it makes a stunning unarmed container specimen. Agave blooms attract hummingbirds. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
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 Agave americana. This plant goes by many invalid names such as 'Quasimodo', 'Incurva Marginata', and 'Marginata Aurea Monstrosa'. Agave 'Cornelius' was discovered by the late Dr. Cornelius of California. Agave blooms attract hummingbirds. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This stunning selection of the tropical Agave desmettiana comes from Joe Hoak of Hoak's Nursery in south Florida. Agave 'Joe Hoak' makes a stunning specimen plant with wide, pliable glaucous grey leaves, each bordered in creamy white, which is in turn surrounded by a dark green edge. Many people consider this the most striking agave cultivar in commerce. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(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 Agave 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. Agave 'Hakuro Shiro Fukurin' (translated as "frosty white margin") makes a stunning 18" tall x 3' wide clump. These are slow growers in containers. Agave flowers attract hummingbirds. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Agave gentryi 'Jaws' is a stunning Yucca Do selection, from 8,000' on the south side of La Pena Nevada in the Nuevo Leon Province of northern Mexico. The 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: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
We purchased these seeds (wild collected from La Escondida in Mexico's Nuevo Leon province) as Agave gentryi, but after examining the parent photos and growing the plants, we are convinced they are Agave gentryi with some Agave montana intergrades. Expect thick, glossy, green-leaved, attractive rosettes to 3' tall x 4' wide. Supplies are very limited. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(syn: Agave guiengola 'Marginata') We are pleased to make available this elegant collector plant, whose parent originated in the Guiengola limestone cliffs of Oaxaca (pronounced "Wahaka"), Mexico. Since the name 'Marginata' has been invalid on plants named after 1959, we chose a new name, Agave '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 25 percent. Agave 'Creme Brulee' was discovered by California agave specialist, Kelly Griffin. Agave flowers attract hummingbirds. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Agave havardiana is a medium- to large-sized century plant, native to rocky grassland slopes (often alkaline) from west Texas into Mexico (4,000'-6,000' elevation). Agave 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 20 degrees F. Mature specimens are topped with stunningly massive 12' tall asparagus-looking flower spikes in summer. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This collection of the US native Agave havardiana comes from an Ian Barclay collection in the Davis Mountains of Texas at 6,200', where they 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: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
(aka: Agave sp. Kichiokan, Agave 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 a 15" tall x 18" wide, slowly offsetting clump. The blue-grey leaves are bordered in creamy white, while 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. Agave blooms attract hummingbirds. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This hardy agave has proven to be one of the easiest to grow in temperate climates. The dark green rosettes are highlighted with a creamy-gold center stripe down each leaf -- brightest in spring and early summer. In loose soils, Agave 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 1994 expedition into the Mexican mountains. Our 10-year-old rosettes in the display garden are 15" tall x 20" wide. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
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'. Agave 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. Agave flowers attract hummingbirds. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
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 Agave lophantha 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 that is even wider on the leaf back. Agave lophantha is a suckering species but the offsets on Agave 'Splendida' are held close to the parent rosette. When your Agave 'Splendida' is old enough, it will be topped with a 12' tall, 1" diameter flower spike holding manfreda-like spidery flowers...hummingbirds not included. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
In 2009, we hand-crossed flowering plants of Agave lophantha with pollen from Agave salmiana v. ferox 'Logan Calhoun'. The resulting plants are intermediate between both parents. Most show the wonderfully upturned leaf tips of Agave salmiana, combined with the extra teeth, while some also display light central striping from Agave lophantha. Each seedling is different and will vary in size, but average 3' tall x 4-5' wide. We hope that by getting these out to good homes, we'll hear back in several years with what the offspring look like...just think of this as a horticultural adoption. This is a limited offering...when they're gone, they're gone. Agave flowers attract hummingbirds. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Agave 'Mateo' is a unique new century plant that was discovered as a seedling in a block of Agave bracteosa at San Marcos Growers of California. We are uncertain about the other parent, but speculate that an amorous Agave lophantha may be the baby daddy. The non-spiny, 18" tall x 3' wide, squid-shaped rosette of rough green leaves is highlighted by a central muted chartreuse-yellow stripe down the middle of each leaf. Our first winter with this in the ground only dropped to 15 degrees F, but it did so many times and Agave 'Mateo' sailed through without any problems. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
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