This group includes lily-like plants that have evergreen parts. They are very effective and quite happy in hardy perennial borders and as placeholders in a foundation planting.
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!
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)
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)
(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 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)
(aka: Agave celsii 'Multicolor') I first saw this gem at Holland's amazing Succulenta Nursery and later at specialty nurseries in Thailand, where it made an architectural 18" 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. Due to problems with the types specimen of Agave celsii being improperly documented, the name was switched to the properly documented specimen, Agave mitis. 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)
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)
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)
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)
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 name. Agave flowers attract hummingbirds. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This delightful Mexican agave, native to 7,000' elevation in Durango, Chihuahua and Sinaloa, is closely allied with the better known Agave 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 those sorely in need of Rogaine®. Mature 4' and wider 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. Agave flowers attract hummingbirds. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This fabulous agave was first brought into the US by the late Lynn Lowery, who found it growing between 3,000' and 7,000' elevation in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. It was planted around Dallas and survived for decades unscathed by cold. We have also received several reports of it surviving -5F when kept dry. Agave expert Greg Starr, curious to know its identity, retraced Lynn's route and found the original population in Mexico, where it was determined to be a new species and subsequently named in 2002. In form, it looks like an Agave parryi on steroids, forming a 36" tall x 5' wide (in 5 years), symmetrical clump of wide grey leaves. It has proven to be one of the best agaves for cold, wet climates, far outperforming almost all other species. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
We originally got this plant from Randy Baldwin of San Marcos Growers under the invalid name of Agave parryi 'Minima Variegata'. Not only was the cultivar name invalid, but some agave experts think it might not even be Agave parryi. We're leaving the parryi species name intact since it resembles the other Agave parryi forms we grow. This stunning specimen makes a compact 1' wide clump of blue leaves, each surrounded by a wide creamy border. Even where it's not hardy, Agave 'Cream Spike' makes a stunning container specimen. This is not the same plant as Agave parryi patonii 'Minor Variegata' or Agave parryi 'Mexico Variegata'. Agave flowers attract hummingbirds. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
Agave parryi ssp. truncata, considered one of the most beautiful of all the agaves, has a very limited distribution. Found only in Durango, Mexico, it can best be described as short, fat, blue, and producing lots of offspring. Come to think of it, that also describes most of the guys at the local saloon on Saturday night. Each 18" tall x 18" wide robust clump is topped at maturity with a phallic flower bud that enlarges into a 3" diameter, 20' tall flower spike which could easily be used for a flagpole...we like horticultural multi-tasking. Remember to keep it well-drained and dry in the winter months. Agave flowers attract hummingbirds. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
This north Mexican species makes a very cute and non-offsetting rosette to only 5" tall x 10" wide, composed of very dark green leaves, highlighted with an abundance of white filifers (hairs). In the wild, Agave polianthiflora can be found clinging to pine and oak forested rock outcrops up to 6,500' elevation...come to think of it, that's exactly what I do at that elevation. The 6' tall spikes of pinkish-red flowers top the plant at maturity. It takes approximately 4-8 years for Agave polianthiflora to prepare for meaningful sex in captivity, but it sure beats every 100 years in the wild. Agave flowers attract hummingbirds. Pot Size: 3.5" (24 fl. oz/709.77 ml)
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