Accent
Artichoke Agave
Agave parryi var. truncata · Asparagaceae (Agavoideae; formerly Agavaceae)
Also called: Truncated Parry's Agave, Artichoke Parry Agave, Parry's Century Plant (truncate form)
Artichoke Agave (Agave parryi var. truncata) is a very low-water accent well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It thrives in full sun, with a slow growth rate.
Artichoke Agave at a glance
- Water use
- Very Low (established)
- Sun
- Full sun; tolerates reflected heat. Also grows in light/filtered shade, where it stays a bit greener.
- Mature size
- 1.5-2 ft H x 2-3 ft W (compact rosette; clumps wider); flower stalk to 12-20 ft
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Bloom
- Yellow, opening from red/pink-tinged buds, Summer; monocarpic - the rosette dies after flowering but leaves abundant offsets to replace it.
- Cold hardiness
- Very cold-hardy, to about 10-15 F (the species to near 0 F); USDA zones 8-11. Fully cold-hardy in Tucson.
- Soil
- Excellent drainage essential; thrives in rocky, gravelly, sandy, and lean native desert soils. Intolerant of soggy soil.
- Native range
- Durango and Zacatecas, Mexico (high-elevation montane region). The species A. parryi ranges into Arizona, but this variety (truncata) is from central Mexico and is not native to the Sonoran Desert.
- Best used as
- Accent / focal point (sculptural specimen), Container plant, Rock and cactus gardens, Mass plantings, Contemporary and formal desert designs
- Wildlife
- Flowers provide nectar for bees, hummingbirds, and bats.
- Toxicity
- Sap contains saponins/oxalates that irritate skin and eyes (contact dermatitis); the stout dark terminal spine and marginal teeth can cause punctures. Ingestion is irritating to people and pets.
How to grow Artichoke Agave in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Extremely drought tolerant once established; survives on Tucson rainfall. Occasional deep soaking (every 3-4 weeks) in peak summer keeps it plump. No winter water - wet, cold soil causes rot.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Not needed; adapted to lean soils. Avoid fertilizing, which causes loose, soft growth and detracts from the tight, sculptural form.
Pruning & care
Minimal - remove only dead outer leaves and the spent flower stalk; remove pups to control the clump or leave them to form a colony. Wear heavy gloves and eye protection - leaves end in a sharp dark terminal spine and have small marginal teeth.
Notes
Forms a tight, symmetrical, ball-like rosette of short, broad, chalky blue-gray leaves, each tipped with a striking dark (red-brown to nearly black) terminal spine - giving it an 'artichoke' look. Among the most popular and sculptural ornamental agaves for the low desert; very cold-hardy and clump-forming. Distinct from native Arizona A. parryi var. parryi/couesii by its more compact, blue, truncate leaves.
Sources: AMWUA 'Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert'; University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum; Tohono Chul / Tucson Botanical Gardens plant references