Agave palmeri
An evergreen succulent, forming a stiff rosette of pale, slightly grey-green leaves, with small, closely spaced teeth along the edges and red-brown spines to 6cm long at the tip. Slow growing, but can reach up to 1.2m high at maturity. Mature plants may produce a tall spike with branching clusters of small, pale yellow-green flowers, tinted red in bud, after which the central rosette dies off
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Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metresTime to ultimate height
10–20 yearsUltimate spread
1–1.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Grey Silver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green Grey Silver | |||
| Autumn | Green Grey Silver | |||
| Winter | Yellow Green | Green Grey Silver |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing
Exposure
Exposed or ShelteredDrought resistance
Yes Hardiness
H3Botanical details
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Potentially harmful
- Skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (dogs, cats): harmful if eaten. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
- Genus
Agave can be perennial or monocarpic succulents, forming rosettes of usually rigid, fleshy, spiny-edged leaves, with funnel-shaped flowers in racemes or panicles often much taller than the rosettes
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- New Mexico and Arizona to Mexico
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in free draining soil or cactus compost, water freely when in growth and apply a dilute, liquid fertiliser 3 or 4 times during the growing season. May be hardy to -8°C if kept dry over winter, provide winter protection or overwinter in a greenhouse or conservatory. See hardy cacti and succulent cultivation for more advice
Propagation
Propagate by seed, or sometimes by division, removing offsets in spring or autumn. This species does not regularly produce offsets
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- Gravel garden
- Patio and container plants
- Sub-tropical
- Conservatory and greenhouse
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to scale insects
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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