Other Names:  New Mexico Century Plant, Maguey

Description:

An interesting small variety producing a rosette of wide, rounded, glaucous gray to light green foliage with toothy spines; infrequent flower spike soars upward, bearing yellow blooms from reddish buds; a great accent plant

Ornamental Features

New Mexico Agave features bold spikes of yellow cup-shaped flowers rising above the foliage in mid spring, which emerge from distinctive red flower buds. It has attractive light green-variegated gray foliage with hints of powder blue. The succulent pointy leaves are highly ornamental and remain gray throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

New Mexico Agave is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its strikingly bold and coarse texture can be very effective in a balanced landscape composition.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spiny

New Mexico Agave is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

New Mexico Agave will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity extending to 12 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 24 inches. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in poor soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is native to parts of North America. It can be propagated by multiplication of the underground bulbs.