Create Your Garden

Agave parryi (Artichoke Agave)

Artichoke Agave, Parry's Century Plant

AGM Award
Agave parryi, Artichoke Agave,Parry's Century Plant
Agave parryi, Artichoke Agave,Parry's Century Plant
Agave parryi, Artichoke Agave,Parry's Century Plant

Surprisingly cold hardy, award-winning Agave parryi (Artichoke Agave) is an evergreen, perennial succulent forming pretty rosettes of thick, rigid, silvery-blue to silvery-green leaves, tipped and edged with short, dark spines. While infrequent, mature plants (over 10 years) flower only once. They are topped with a magnificent flowering spike that can reach 15 ft. (5m), and bears dense clusters of yellow flowers, tinged red or pink in bud. The flowering rosette dies after flowering, but new rosettes formed by offsets will root at the base of the mother rosette to form colonies.

  • Grows up to 1-2 ft. tall (30-60 cm) and 2-3 ft. wide (60-90 cm). May reach 15 ft. (450 cm) with flower stalk.
  • Winner of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
  • Easily grown in slightly acidic, sandy or gravelly, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates light shade. Dry soil and drought tolerant
  • Great for beds and borders, city gardens, rock gardens, succulent gardens or Mediterranean gardens. Ideal as an accent plant in sunny borders or in decorative containers.
  • Plant away from foot traffic: the needle-sharp spines on the leaf tips can be a hazard to humans and pets. Don’t plant this Agave near paths or walkways
  • Attracts hummingbirds and birds but is deer resistant
  • Virtually disease free. Watch for scale insects.
  • Propagate by seed, or remove offsets
  • Use caution, safety glasses, long sleeves, long pants, well covered shoes, and gloves when cutting this plant.
  • Native to Arizona, Texas and New Mexico

Agave: Plant Care and Growing Guide


Agave plants are popular for landscaping because they are rich in many qualities and have a striking architectural appearance. Here are some tips on how to plant and grow agaves successfully

Requirements

Hardiness 7 - 12
Heat Zones 5 - 11
Climate Zones 2B, 3A, 3B, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Cactus & Succulents
Plant Family Asparagaceae
Genus Agave
Common names Artichoke Agave, Agave
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spacing 36" (90cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Sand
Soil pH Acid
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Native Plants United States, Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Birds, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Mediterranean Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Agave
Guides with
Agave
Not sure which Agave to pick?
Compare Now

Alternative Plants to Consider

Agave salmiana var. ferox ‘Medio Picta’ (Giant Agave)
Agave bovicornuta (Cowhorn Agave)
Agave tequilana (Blue Agave)
Agave angustifolia var. marginata (Caribbean Agave)
Agave xylonacantha (Saw Leaf Agave)
Agave x leopoldii (Leopold Agave)

Recommended Companion Plants

Senecio mandraliscae (Blue Chalksticks)
Sedum nussbaumerianum (Stonecrop)
Eschscholzia californica (California Poppy)
Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’ (Blue Fescue)

Find In One of Our Guides or Gardens

A Superb Mediterranean Front-Yard with Pretty Succulents
An Eye-Catching Mediterranean Garden with Agave, Aloe and Pincushion
A Striking Water-Wise Border with Agave, Cactus and Ocotillo
Desert Shrubs: Essential Plants for Dry Gardens
Do Succulents Need Sun?
Indoor Succulent Plants: Best Varieties for Your Home
Are Succulents Poisonous to Cats?
Succulent Garden: Creative Ideas for Indoors and Outdoors
How to Care for Succulents Indoors and Outdoors
How Often to Water Succulents Indoors and Outdoors
Succulent Soil: The Key to Healthy Growth
How To Propagate Succulents
80 Types of Succulents for Beginners and Expert Gardeners
Succulent Plants
Cold-Hardy Agaves for Your Garden
Agave
Great Shrubs as Companion Plants for Your Succulents
Great Ornamental Grasses as Companion Plants for Your Succulents
Great Perennials as Companion Plants for Your Succulents
Pretty Agaves for Your Containers
Agave: Plant Care and Growing Guide
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.
Buy Plants

Requirements

Hardiness 7 - 12
Heat Zones 5 - 11
Climate Zones 2B, 3A, 3B, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Cactus & Succulents
Plant Family Asparagaceae
Genus Agave
Common names Artichoke Agave, Agave
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter
Height 1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm)
Spread 2' - 3' (60cm - 90cm)
Spacing 36" (90cm)
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Low
Soil Type Sand
Soil pH Acid
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Native Plants United States, Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
Tolerance Drought, Deer, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Birds, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds And Borders, Patio And Containers
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Mediterranean Garden
How Many Plants
Do I Need?
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Agave
Guides with
Agave
Not sure which Agave to pick?
Compare Now

Gardening Ideas

Plant Calculator

How many Agave parryi (Artichoke Agave) do I need for my garden?

Input your garden space dimensions

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Agave parryi (Artichoke Agave) N/A Buy Plants

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone