'Artichoke Agave' grows in large clumps of symmetrical rosettes with wide, blue gray foliage. They reach about 2-4 feet tall with clusters being about 5 feet wide at maturity. Great as a bright accent or specimen plant, pairing beautifully with other succulents. They're drought tolerant once established and thriving in well draining soil, making them a perfect option for our Florida summers.
How to care for Artichoke Agave
Light. Full sun. It tolerates a little light shade.
Water. Water while it settles in, then keep it on the dry side. It tolerates drought, and wet soil leads to root rot.
Soil and feeding. Sharp drainage matters most. Use sandy, gritty soil or a raised bed, never a spot where water collects.
Size. Grows to about 4 ft. Offsets at the base slowly form a colony of rosettes.
Pruning. Little needed. Each rosette blooms once, often after 10–15 years, then dies; remove it and the offsets carry on.
Problems to watch. Root rot in wet soil and the agave weevil are the main problems. Snails may chew the leaves; use Snail and Slug Bait.
Good to know. Leaf edges are spiny, and each leaf ends in a sharp tip spine about 1 in long.
Sources: Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder: Agave parryi var. truncata
