Agave acahui

photos: Geoff Stein

Elegantly spiky! The rigid dark green blades of this agave have attractive reddish margins. And it doesn’t produce offsets so it’s perfect for that architectural gardener in your life! This 2-3’ wide agave forms what looks to be a dense ball of danger. But really, its bark is worse than its bite. The spines are sharp to be sure but are still rather flexible so you shouldn’t be punctured too deeply if you bump into it. This is an excellent candidate for a container with its petite size & ability to withstand abuse. In fact, tough conditions only enhance its ball-shaped form. So bring on the reflected heat & drought! Shade & excess water will only encourage it to grow leggy & loose. Native to cliff faces of Sonora, Mexico, so best with good drainage. When it blooms the spike will reach nearly 15’ tall & is dense with yellow-green flowers. The only trick (at least in winter rainfall areas) is that winter water should be kept at a minimum. Very nice looking in containers alongside grasses.

Kelly Kilpatrick
Horticulturalist