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Agave stricta

Also Known As

Hedgehog Agave
Rabo de León

Plant type

cactus / succulent

size

H: 20"-40"
W: 20"-40"

planting zones

8b-11

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Agave stricta plant details

Agave stricta is an evergreen cactus / succulent with green foliage. In summer purple and red flowers emerge. Features grassy 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 stricta

Plant type: cactus / succulent
Plant family: agavaceae, asparagaceae
Foliage: evergreen green
Mature size: 20 IN - 40 IN - wide, 20 IN - 40 IN - tall
Flowers: purple and red blooms in summer
Uses: architectural, container plant, desert garden, rock garden, rosette-forming, xeric

GROWING CONDITIONS for Agave stricta

USDA Zones: 8b - 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

Zn 8. Sharp pointed gray-green foliage.

By: Little Prince of Oregon

Wonderfully symmetric, multi-leaved rosettes to about 18" or a little larger and eventually offsetting. The leaves are pleasing blue-green with a purple tint. Preferring mineral, well-drained soil and bright light, these plants have remained hardy, where dry, to 15ºF, mid USDA zone 8, or below.

By: Cistus Nursery

This unusual looking Agave obviously reminds some people of a balled-up hedgehog. Cute and prickly! An apt description, I’d say. Agave stricta grows to about 2’ tall and has many slender leaves that end in a spine. In summer the flower stalk will appear and grow to 6’ tall. The flowers vary from green to reddish brown. This Agave will form offshoots to create a colony of rosettes. Each rosette grows in a slightly different direction and reminds me of a freeze-frame photo of grasses blowing in the wind or of forests of anemones moving with the currents. Native to dry hills in Central Mexico, this plant is heat and drought tolerant. And deer resistant too, I might add.