About

Agave parryi is a perennial succulent that grows in a rosette shape and remains evergreen throughout the year. Its leaves exhibit a grey-blue hue and are characterized by short, dark spines along the tips and edges. After several years of growth, it produces clusters of yellow flowers, which display red or pink hues in their buds, on a large, branched stem that can reach heights of up to 5 meters.

About the genus

Agave consists of either perennial or monocarpic succulents that develop rosettes of typically stiff, thick, spiny leaves. The plants produce funnel-shaped flowers in racemes or panicles that often exceed the height of the rosettes.

Growing conditions

Sunlight
Full sun
Soil type
Sand
Soil pH
Acid
Soil moisture
Well-drained
Aspect
West-facing, South-facing
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness
H2

Plant details

Plant type
Cactus Succulent, Conservatory Greenhouse
Habit
Bushy
Foliage
Evergreen
Height
0.1-0.5 metres
Spread
0.5-1 metres
Time to full height
10-20 years
Suggested uses
Architectural, City and courtyard gardens, Patio and container plants, Sub-tropical, Gravel garden
Native to
Arizona, Texas & N Mexico
Toxicity
Skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (dogs, cats): harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants

Care notes

Cultivation
Grow under glass in cactus compost in full light. Water freely in summer, giving a low-nitrogen feed three or four times. Water less in autumn and keep dry in winter. Can move outdoors for summer. See houseplant cacti and succulent cultivation for further information
Pruning
No pruning required
Propagation
Propagate by seed, or remove offsets
Pest resistance
May be susceptible to scale insects
Disease resistance
Generally disease-free