Agaves are awesome!

When it comes to low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and extremely difficult to kill plants, agaves are at the top of the list.  This plant can be sharp, with some varieties growing quite large, so you want to be very considerate when choosing agave planting locations.  Agaves do well in full sun locations that tend to stay on the dry side with loose, sandy soil.  These plants are great for sunny locations with limited irrigation; they also do well in shell or rock groundcover.  Agaves can be a great option to keep people and animals from walking through specific areas.  There are several options available depending on your location and preferences.  We have some of the common agaves listed below that are found throughout Florida landscapes.
 
Blue Glow Agave
This smaller agave will slowly grow 1-2 feet tall with a 2-3 foot spread making it perfect for smaller full sun or partial shade locations.  The plant appears to glow when backlit by the sun along the blue-green leaves lined with red and yellow bands.  This plant will live for around 10-15 years before flowering and completing its lifecycle.  This agave rarely produces pups and typically only requires maintenance once a year during spring.
 
Center Stripe Agave (Agave Lophantha)
This winter-hardy agave is a great option for pots or full sun, dry locations in your landscape.  This agave is on the smaller size, typically growing 2-3 feet tall with a similar spread.  The colors will depend on the exact cultivar but typically have dark green and yellow stripes or edges along the saw-like leaves.  This agave will produce a 12’ bloom at the end of its lifecycle but is easily replaced with pups produced along the way that can be removed, relocated, or utilized to replace a dying, mature plant.
 
American Century Plant (Agave Americana)
A striking focal plant option is the blue or variegated American century plant.  This plant needs room to spread as it can grow up to 6 feet tall with a 10-foot spread.  This monocarpic (only blooms once) plant will produce a 20’-40’ high flower stalk with yellow green flowers before dying at the end of its life cycle.  This plant is a great option for large spaces in full sun locations.
 
Foxtail Agave (Agave Attenuata)
This spineless agave option can grow 3-4 feet tall with a 5-7 foot spread, making it a great option for larger spaces.  The smooth leaves may be a better option in areas with children and pets.  This agave does well in a full sun or partial shade location, typically living 10-25 years, producing a dramatic 8-10 ft tall bloom at the end of its lifecycle that resembles a foxtail. 
 
These are just a few of the agave options for a dry, full sun location with limited irrigation.  Make sure you consider the mature size of the plant when choosing a space.  Select a variety that offers smooth leaves for areas with children and pets.  If you would like help selecting the best agave for your location, give us a call or send a text to schedule an onsite consultation.  We can discuss the best agaves to complement your current landscape design.