Agave

Agave mckelveyana Very hard to separate from Agave deserti var. simplex, this small Agave from western Arizona, grows in dry scrubland between 3000 and 6000 ft. It forms a tight rosette of stiff, bluish green leaves and is extremely tolerant of drought and severe freezes

Agave parryi parryi Parry's agave or mescal agave is a slow-growing agave native to Arizona, New Mexico, and northern México. The leaves are grey green and have a spine at the tip. One of the distinguishing features is that the point on the tip, which is typically dark tan, brown, or black, is darker than the leaf. The rosette grows as large as 1½ to 2½ feet in diameter. Parry's Agave is evergreen. Mature plants produce a twelve-foot stalk with bright yellow blooms. They are monocarpic

Named for Queen Victoria of England, this forms a distinctive rosette of stiff thick leaves with distinct "keels" and longitudinal white markings. Rosettes may be a little over 2 ft in diameter and are usually solitary or offsetting sparingly. The inflorescence is a 10 ft spike of white flowers with a reddish tinge. This is my favorite Agave