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Agave chrysantha

Plant type

cactus / succulent

size

H: 2'-3'
W: 4'-5'

planting zones

9a-11

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Agave chrysantha plant details

Agave chrysantha is an evergreen cactus / succulent with blue and green foliage. In summer chartreuse, mustard and yellow flowers emerge followed by green fruit. Features glaucous texture. Attracts bees, beneficial insects and hummingbirds making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun and occasional - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in winter, dry when dormant. Does well in gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Agave chrysantha

Plant type: cactus / succulent
Plant family: agavaceae, asparagaceae
Foliage: evergreen blue and green
Mature size: 4 FT - 5 FT - wide, 2 FT - 3 FT - tall
Flowers: chartreuse, mustard and yellow blooms in summer
Uses: architectural, container plant, desert garden, rock garden, rosette-forming, spiky, xeric, year round interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Agave chrysantha

USDA Zones: 9a - 11
Sun exposure: sun
Watering frequency: occasional - low
Resistant to: deer and rabbit, heat and verticillium wilt
Soil needs: gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Agave chrysantha has long, narrow, bluish leaves with bold marginal spines. The flowers are bright yellow. Endemic to Arizona. Hardy to zone 7.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

Sharp spines -- on the margins of long and stiff, green leaves with a strong, particularly pointed one on the tapered leaf tip -- mark this striking agave that blooms in early summer with tall candelabras of yellow buds opening to bright, golden-yellow flowers - very showy with a faint aroma of coconut. Found on dry, open slopes in Arizona, these can reach 3 ft tall x 5 ft wide as solitary rosettes, growing in full sun and well-drained soil with little or no summer water once established. Best grown away from high traffic areas where the spines could be dangerous. Flowers only once before dying and regrowing from basal offsets. Frost hardy to 17° F, uppermost USDA zone 8.

By: Cistus Nursery

Zn 7. Large leaves with a yellow cast, sharp spine

By: Little Prince of Oregon

Full Sun. Outdoor. Flowers at end of life cycle.

By: Moon - Sun Cactus & Koi Gardens

Garden photo gallery of Agave chrysantha

Photo of Agave chrysantha container plant, foliage by Danger Garden

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By: Danger Garden

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Photo of Agave chrysantha flower by Miwasatoshi

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By: Miwasatoshi

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license.

By: Danger Garden

By: Danger Garden

Gardening facts about Agave chrysantha plant

How to Grow Agave chrysantha

Sun Exposure
- sun
Water Needs
- occasional - drought tolerant
Water Needs
- dry in winter
Water Needs
- dry when dormant
Soil Needs
- lean
- well-drained
- rocky
- gritty
Special Situation
- heat tolerant
- verticillium wilt resistant

Features

Foliage Color
- green
- blue
Flower Color
- yellow
- mustard
- chartreuse
Wildlife
- beneficial insects
- bees
- hummingbirds
- deer resistant
- rabbit resistant
Fruit
- green
Flower Season
- summer
Foliage Season
- evergreen
Texture
- glaucous

Landscape groups by tags

See other plant types of Agave for your garden

Agave 'Cornelius'

aka Agave americana 'Cornelius', Agave americana 'Marginata Aurea Monstrosa', Agave americana aureo-marginata, Agave americana aureo-marginata 'Cornelius'