A native of Sonora, Mexico, with broad, silver-blue leaves marked by faint cross-bands and edged in dark teeth. It stays in scale with smaller gardens, takes full sun and drought, and eventually sends up a showy yellow bloom on a purple-tinted stalk.
Living with it in the Phoenix Valley
Watering
Follow the shrub, groundcover and succulent schedule in our Landscape Care guide. Occasional summer water is all it needs; more water pushes faster growth but is not necessary.
Pruning
None needed. If a rosette flowers, cut it out once it has dried.
Soil
Fast drainage matters. Sandy or rocky, slightly alkaline soil, or a gently raised bed, keeps the roots healthy.
Pests
Agave snout weevil can attack it in the low desert.
How our designers use it
Full-sun accent
It holds its color in full sun where some agaves bleach or scorch, so it works in open, exposed beds.
Small and mid-size gardens
Its moderate size gives a strong agave form without crowding a courtyard or side yard.
Containers
Smaller plants show off the cross-banded leaves in a pot, where they can be seen up close.
Good to know
Around the pool
The dark edge teeth and sharp tips call for a buffer. Keep it back from pool decking, steps and walkways.
Flowering
Each rosette dies after it blooms. It makes only a few pups, so a flowering plant may leave a gap to fill.
