(Century Plant, Large-bracted Agave)

This large agave from high altitudes in central Mexico is prized not only for its striking appearance but also for its cold hardiness and shade tolerance. The long, broad-based, almost triangular leaves have jagged edges armed with conspicuous teeth. Leaf color varies from dark to light green. After many years, the leaf rosette sends forth a towering stem that bears dense clusters of up-facing funnel-shaped yellow blooms on long horizontal side stalks.

This uncommon agave does best in partial...

(Murphey's Agave, Murphey's Century Plant)

Perfect symmetry, large size and beautiful blue coloring make this succulent evergreen a focal point in any garden. Native to Arizona and Mexico, it is found only near ancient agricultural and settlement sites, where it was grown for fiber and food. Though resembling the common Agave americana, it rarely produces offsets, remaining as a single rosette and thus retaining its striking individual form. Mature rosettes (at least 6 years old) eventually produce a towering flower stalk with clusters...

(Parry's Agave, Parry's Century Plant)

One of the hardier agave species, Parry's agave is a beautiful succulent that originates from the alpine regions of Arizona and New Mexico. It is a more compact agave that sports wide, succulent gray-green leaves with fine, sharp, serrated edges of black. Its neat, evergreen rosettes slowly develop offshoots, or pups, which can easily be removed and replanted elsewhere if desired.

In summer mature rosettes put forth tall, upright panicles of fragrant, creamy yellow flowers. These may be pink...

(New Mexico Century Plant, Parry's Agave)

The tight blue-hued rosettes of this compact Agave have unmatched symmetry and are great for smaller garden spaces. New Mexico century plant is native to the mountains and dry washes of Mexico and extends northward into the dry desert regions of Texas and New Mexico.

The wide fleshy leaves narrow towards the top and end with a sharp black tip. Most agaves produce offsets around their base but this one is reluctant to do so, making propagation time consuming and plants more expensive....

(Parry's Agave, Parry's Century Plant)

One of the hardier agave species, Parry's agave is a beautiful succulent that originates from the alpine regions of Arizona and New Mexico. It is a more compact agave that sports wide, succulent gray-green leaves with fine, sharp, serrated edges of black. Its neat, evergreen rosettes slowly develop offshoots, or pups, which can easily be removed and replanted elsewhere if desired.

In summer mature rosettes put forth tall, upright panicles of fragrant, creamy yellow flowers. These may be pink...

(Parry's Agave, Parry's Century Plant)

One of the hardier agave species, Parry's agave is a beautiful succulent that originates from the alpine regions of Arizona and New Mexico. It is a more compact agave that sports wide, succulent gray-green leaves with fine, sharp, serrated edges of black. Its neat, evergreen rosettes slowly develop offshoots, or pups, which can easily be removed and replanted elsewhere if desired.

In summer mature rosettes put forth tall, upright panicles of fragrant, creamy yellow flowers. These may be pink...

(Parry's Agave, Parry's Century Plant)

One of the hardier agave species, Parry's agave is a beautiful succulent that originates from the alpine regions of Arizona and New Mexico. It is a more compact agave that sports wide, succulent gray-green leaves with fine, sharp, serrated edges of black. Its neat, evergreen rosettes slowly develop offshoots, or pups, which can easily be removed and replanted elsewhere if desired.

In summer mature rosettes put forth tall, upright panicles of fragrant, creamy yellow flowers. These may be pink...

(Hedgehog Agave, Hedgehog Century Plant)

Relatively small in size but dramatic in impact, this Mexican native forms strikingly symmetrical rosettes of narrow spine-tipped evergreen leaves. It spreads by ground-hugging stems to produce attractive colonies. Each hedgehog-like rosette eventually produces a tall, often crooked flowering stem, and then dies. The satellite rosettes take its place. Propagation is from seed and by severing prostrate stems to free and root offsets.

Give this plant well drained, neutral to alkaline soil in...

(Dwarf Hedgehog Agave, Hedgehog Agave)

Relatively small in size but dramatic in impact, this Mexican native forms strikingly symmetrical rosettes of narrow spine-tipped evergreen leaves. It spreads by ground-hugging stems to produce attractive colonies. Each hedgehog-like rosette eventually produces a tall, often crooked flowering stem, and then dies. The satellite rosettes take its place. Propagation is from seed and by severing prostrate stems to free and root offsets.

Give this plant well drained, neutral to alkaline soil in...

(Miniature Century Plant, Silver Dollar, Toumey's Century Plant)

The small effusive rosettes of Toumey's century have sharp slender blades edged with slender white edges that pull away like delicate white scribbles. Though compact it makes a dramatic addition to any desert rock garden or container. This all-American native naturally exists in the mountains of Arizona. It is an unusually hardy species that can withstand periods of freezing as long as growing conditions remain dry, particularly at the root zone.

The dark green fleshy leaves of this century...