Botanical Name: Agave deserti
Common Name: Desert agave
Type of Plant: monocot: perennial
Character evergreen
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape a low-growing, clumping plant, often forming large colonies in its native habitat; distinctive silvery gray stiff fleshy leaves are crowded in rosette pattern on mostly subterranean stems
Height 1' - 2'
Spread 3' - 6'
Growth Rate slow
 
Environment:
Exposure outdoors requires full sun; grows very poorly in shaded locations
Soil prefers loose sandy or rocky habitats; avoid wet clay
Hardiness hardy (zones 12-23): thrives in hot dry inland areas
 
Morphology:
Leaves succulent, triangular or lanceolate, sharp-pointed, arranged in mostly upright basal rosette fashion; silver-gray to grayish green, stiff, 5"-10"(15") long; margins lined with straight or curved pale prickles
Flowers yellow, 1 1/2"-2" long, produced on showy flower stalk 6"-15" tall; May - July
Fruit a capsule; 1"-2" long
 
Propagation:
seed
 
Usage:
a distinctive small accent shrub or low filler, valued for its overall clumping form and silvery gray foliage; rock gardens, desert or subtropical landscape styles
 
Landscape Care:
Watering extremely drought-tolerant; an occasional deep soak in summer promotes a more succulent appearance
Fertilizing none
Pruning none; older plants will develop flower stalks and then die (only that portion of plant which produced the stalk)
Pests/Diseases root rot diseases in poorly-drained areas
Special Conditions/Other
 
Origin: Colorado Desert and Southern Mojave
Family: Agavaceae

Notes:
 
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