Agave oteroi "Filigree" - 1ga

Agave oteroi ‘Filigree’ is a compact, slow-growing agave selected for its refined scale and distinctive marginal spines, making it well suited to containers and small garden spaces. It forms a dense, symmetrical rosette typically 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, composed of broad, very short gray-green leaves that terminate in a reddish-brown spine. The defining feature is the leaf margin, which carries long, narrow, wavy teeth that curve outward like fine filigree; these emerge golden in color and age to pale gray-white, eventually blending with the overall leaf tone. Growth is deliberate and controlled, with plants remaining neat for many years. Flowering occurs only at maturity, producing green-yellow flowers on a tall inflorescence, after which the rosette declines in the typical monocarpic manner. The species is native to south-central Mexico along the Puebla–Oaxaca border and was originally collected by Felipe Otero, long known as FO-076, with ‘Filigree’ selected from California-grown seedlings and introduced by San Marcos Growers in 2010. It performs best in full sun near the coast or light afternoon shade inland, requires very well-drained soil, and needs minimal irrigation once established. Plants tolerate brief cold to roughly 20–25°F but appreciate protection from prolonged freezes. In gardens, ‘Filigree’ works well as an accent plant in courtyards, rock gardens, and containers where its compact form and detailed margins can be viewed up close.