Agave parryi var. truncata

Plant type

cactus / succulent

size

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

planting zones

8a-11

More Options

Agave parryi var. truncata plant details

Too beautiful, this agave. With those almost metallic-looking, powdery blue, perfectly scooped leaves. When you see this in a front garden, you instantly know: a gardener lives here. If you love agaves but live in a spot with cool wet winters, same. This one is worth a little extra effort for the extra beauty, but it's not the hardiest of the Agave options. Still, it's been known to survive temperatures well below 0 °F. As always with Agaves, the right planting preparation and site are the keys to success. Drainage, drainage, drainage. Soggy roots are the agave killer. But if you should have something like a south facing rock wall in the hot sun, an Agave really belongs there.

Agave parryi var. truncata is a cactus / succulent with blue foliage. In summer yellow flowers emerge. Features glaucous texture. Grows well with sun - mostly 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 parryi var. truncata

Plant type: cactus / succulent
Plant family: agavaceae, asparagaceae
Mature size: 3 FT - 4 FT - wide, 2 FT - 3 FT - tall
Flowers: yellow blooms in summer
Uses: architectural, clumping, container plant, desert garden, infrequent-blooming, monocarpic, rock garden, rosette-forming, spiky, xeric, year round interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Agave parryi var. truncata

USDA Zones: 8a - 11
Sun exposure: sun - mostly 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

Arguably the most beautiful form of the species with its rosette of wide, blue, truncated leaves -- think giant pine cone. Good drainage and the brightest light is best to maintain shape. Sadly this is also the least hardy form of the species, but possible in the ground in full sun with very sharp drainage in upper USDA zone 8 or above. Otherwise makes a stunning container specimen.

By: Cistus Nursery

Fabulous artichoke shaped agave with blue green skin and purple spines. A structural masterpiece. Stays relatively small and compact for parryi, about 3 feet across and 3 feet tall at maturity.

By: Paradise Found Nursery

Dramatic bluish-grey succulent with tight artichoke-like rosettes. One of the most widespread and hardy agave species, A. parryi can withstand minus 29 Celsius. In our region protect from winter rain with extremely sharp drainage or overhead cover. Plants bloom once -- around the age of 20 -- but produce lots of pups to keep your clump going!

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

Agave Parryi Truncata: a slow-growing agave native to Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Mexico. The leaves are grey green and have a spine at the tip. One of the distinguishing features is that the point on the tip, which is typically dark tan, brown, or black, is darker than the leaf. Indentations of previous leaves show on the back of each leaf. The Huachuca variety grows in a rosette pattern as large as 2½ feet in diameter. Because of its compact size, plus its low water use and low maintenance, Huachuca agave is considered a good landscaping plant for desert residential landscaping. It requires full sun. It is hardy to roughly -5 °F, though there are reports of specimens surviving temperatures at -20 °F.

By: Oregon Palm Nursery

Full Sun to Partial Sun. Outdoor. Bright Yellow.

By: Moon - Sun Cactus & Koi Gardens

Blue-gray leaves. Symmetrical. Spiny.

By: Little Prince of Oregon

Hardy to at least 10 °F and lucky us that this happens to be one of the most beautiful of all Agaves. Jerry at Jungle Fever in Tacoma has some big ones outside that just about made us wet our pants. Dense blue-green artichoke-like plants, great habit!! Good drainage, dry off in fall. Flowers 20' tall.

By: Far Reaches Farm

Not quite as hardy as the other varieties, but makes a great pot subject. If kept out of the rain, it can take 15 °F.

By: Kara Nursery

The blue gray leaves form an upright rounded plant with an amazing architectural form. Perfect for a container. We grow our agaves under the eaves of Marj's house year round.