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Agave palmeri

Palmer's agave

Asparagaceae

Southwestern United States and northern Mexico

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Hummingbirds Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterVery Low · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–11

Overview

Agave palmeri is a large, solitary, evergreen succulent that forms a single rosette 2-4 feet (60-120 cm) tall and 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 m) wide of stiff, fleshy leaves. The blue-green to gray-green leaves are lance-shaped, 1.5-3 feet (45-90 cm) long, channeled above, edged with curved brown teeth, and tipped with a sharp terminal spine 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long. The rosette grows slowly for 20-35 years, storing starch, then sends up a single flower stalk 10-20 feet (3-6 m) tall bearing horizontal branches of pale yellow to greenish flowers tinged red in bud. After this one bloom the rosette dies, a monocarpic life cycle, though seed and occasional offsets carry on. The flowers open at night and produce heavy nectar that draws nectar-feeding bats, along with bees and hummingbirds by day. It withstands heat, drought, and light frost but rots in wet, poorly drained soil.

Native Range

Native to the southwestern United States, in southern Arizona and New Mexico, and south into Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico. Grows on rocky slopes, grasslands, and oak and pinyon-juniper woodland at 3,000-6,000 feet (900-1,800 m).

Suggested Uses

Planted as a specimen in desert, rock, and xeric gardens and on dry slopes, set well back from walks at 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m) spacing. The night flowers feed migrating nectar bats, and the day flowers draw bees and hummingbirds. Its sharp teeth and terminal spines make it less suited to areas with foot traffic, children, or pets.

How to Identify

Recognized by a large solitary rosette of stiff blue-green leaves with curved marginal teeth and a sharp terminal spine, and, when mature, a tall unbranched stalk with horizontal flower branches. Separated from Agave parryi by its longer, narrower leaves and larger size, and from clumping agaves by its mostly solitary, offset-poor habit.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 4'

Width/Spread3' - 5'

Reaches mature size in approximately 25 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~6 weeks

Summer

Flowers once in the plant's life, usually after 20-35 years, with the stalk rising in late spring and flowers opening June through August. The bloom lasts several weeks as flowers open up the stalk. Flowers open at night, when nectar-feeding bats visit, and the rosette dies after seed sets.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

pale yellow to greenish

Foliage Description

blue-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.8(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

rocky sand loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

20-35 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun on sharp-draining rocky or sandy soil and tolerates intense heat, drought, and brief frost to about 10F (-12C). Once established it needs no irrigation, and wet or heavy soil causes fatal crown and root rot. It produces few or no offsets, so it is grown mainly from seed and is slow to reach size. The agave snout weevil can kill plants by boring into the crown, often as bloom nears. The sharp leaf teeth and spine-tipped leaves are a hazard along paths. After flowering the spent rosette is removed, since the plant does not regrow.

Pruning

Remove dead lower leaves at the base to keep the rosette clean. Cut down the tall flower stalk and the spent rosette after bloom and seed set, since the plant dies once it has flowered. The terminal spine tips can be trimmed where the plant is near walkways.