Miniature Agave

Family

Agavaceae

Native

Mexico.

Description

Agave pumila is a beautiful very compact and small Agave with short fat leaves with dark striation. It is suspected to be a natural hybrid between Agave lechuguilla and Agave Victoria reginae.

The Agave pumila stays small usually 2 to 4 inches tall and as wide as a container grown plant, with a juvenile form for many years. Displaying short smooth stubby gray-green leaves that are deeply concave above and check-striped below with small marginal and terminal spines. However if it is planted on ground , it will eventually  form an open and solitary rosette that has leaves that are paler and elongated to 16-18 inches long and that have a white leathery margins and a stout short brown terminal spine.

Environment

Agave pumila is easy to grow but very very slow. They need very well drained soil. Water well in the summer months but allow to dry between irrigation.  During the winter months water only enough to keep the leaves from shriveling.  Provide some shade in the summer months for best leaf color. Hardy to  about 20 degrees F.

Landscape Uses

Agave Pumila  striking plants are wonderful when used for accent or simply to provide some all year round foliage colour .