Agave attenuata "Boutin Blue"- 4in

Agave attenuata ‘Boutin Blue’ is a distinctive blue-leaved selection of Fox Tail Agave derived from high-elevation populations in the Sierra de Manantlán of Jalisco, Mexico. It forms large, spineless rosettes 4 to 5 feet across atop smooth gray trunks that typically reach 3 to 4 feet tall, eventually developing broad colonies through basal offsets. The broad, flexible leaves are powdery blue-gray rather than the soft green typical of Agave attenuata, and arch gracefully outward to create a lush, sculptural form. Unlike most agaves, the leaf margins are completely smooth and lack both teeth and terminal spines, making it one of the most user-friendly large agaves for planting near paths, patios, and gathering spaces. Mature rosettes produce stout flower stalks 5 to 10 feet tall bearing pale greenish-yellow flowers; unlike the species, whose inflorescence characteristically bends into a "foxtail" shape, the flowering stalk of ‘Boutin Blue’ remains largely upright. The cultivar originated from seed collected in 1970 by Myron Kimnach and Fred Boutin from unusually blue plants growing at approximately 7,200 feet elevation and was later named to honor Boutin. It grows well in full sun near the coast or partial shade inland, benefits from occasional irrigation, and performs best in well-drained soil. Although drought tolerant once established, it is relatively frost tender, with damage likely below 25–28°F. In the garden, ‘Boutin Blue’ is prized as a specimen, mass planting, or container subject, where its soft blue foliage and spineless architecture provide a dramatic yet approachable contrast to more heavily armed agaves and other drought-adapted plants.