Agave parryi var truncata - 3ga

Agave parryi var. truncata, often called Artichoke Agave, is a compact, evergreen agave from north-central Mexico grown for its symmetrical rosettes and durable, waterwise nature. It forms a tight, artichoke-like rosette typically about 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide, with short, broad, blue-gray leaves that show bud imprints and may have squared or slightly pointed tips. Leaf margins carry stout reddish to dark brown teeth and each leaf ends in a firm terminal spine; plants may remain solitary or slowly form clumps. Like other agaves, it is monocarpic, sending up a tall flower stalk after many years, usually bearing yellow summer flowers, after which the blooming rosette declines while offsets continue the plant. Native to high-elevation grasslands of Durango and Zacatecas and associated with collections by H. S. Gentry, this form is well suited to full sun, very well-drained soil, and sparse irrigation once established. It tolerates light to moderate frost best in dry soils. In gardens it is used as a specimen, container plant, or repeating accent in xeric landscapes, with care taken to site it away from foot traffic due to its spines.