Agaves are a very popular group of succulents. This year you’ll find lots of new kinds are available from various sources. Here are highlights from just a few of the newer offerings this growing season.


Agave Globe

Globe Agave is a classically shaped agave. This beauty reaches about two feet in height with a spread of around 1½ feet. It has a clumping growth habit with tight rosettes. Hardy to zone eight, Globe is small enough for container gardens. This is also suitable for garden beds and borders.

The edges of the leaves are beautifully notched. Along the edges, there are colorful red spines, which can be either curved or straight. The foliage is a lovely shade of blue. Though the leaves are short, they’re rather plump and thick.


Agave Blue Emperor

Growing to around three feet in height, Blue Emperor agave has spectacular blue foliage. The ends of the leaves taper and have a sharp black point.

This can spread to be over two feet wide. This hybrid is hardy to zone eight.


Agave Blue Glow

This plant forms a lovely rosette that is generally less than two feet in height with a matching spread. Hardy to zone eight, Agave Blue Glow has classic, sword shaped foliage outlined with red or yellow. The leaves taper to a sharp point. This hybrid is named for the chalky greenish-blue shade of the foliage. Along the edges of the leaves this can have very minute spines that are very hard to spot. This variety can be used in rock gardens and containers. It is very suitable for an accent plant.


Frosty Blue Agave

This very tall variety is hardy to zone seven or so. It will need plenty of space for it can have a spread of about six feet. Use it wherever a tall,
architectural plant is needed as it can reach eight feet in height. When flowering, the stalk can be 15 feet tall.

This delightful variety forms an attractive rosette. The foliage is a lovely gray. Along the edges of the leaves, there are small bristles or teeth. The leaf tips have blackish spines.