Parry's Agave is a striking blue-gray succulent native to the high-elevation grasslands and woodlands of Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Mexico. This rosette-forming perennial thrives in zones 7-10 and grows to a modest 18-24 inches tall and 24-36 inches wide, making it a sculptural addition to any garden. Its thick, smooth leaves display an exceptional color palette shifting from blue-gray to gray-green throughout the year. Though it rarely flowers, when it does bloom, the spikes are genuinely spectacular and well worth the wait.
Full Sun
Moderate
7-10
24in H x 36in W
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Moderate
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Parry's Agave survives winters with temperatures as low as -20°F when conditions stay dry, an exceptional feat for a succulent that most gardeners assume requires year-round warmth. The plant's architectural rosette form and cool blue-gray foliage provide year-round visual interest in full sun gardens with sandy, well-drained soil. Its ability to thrive in shallow-rocky and drought-prone sites makes it invaluable for low-water landscapes where most ornamentals struggle.
Parry's Agave functions primarily as an ornamental focal point in rock gardens, xeriscapes, and mixed succulent plantings. Its architectural rosette form and cool coloring complement contemporary landscape designs and drought-tolerant gardens.
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“Agave parryi earned its common name from William Parry, and has been documented for centuries in the high-elevation ecosystems spanning Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Mexico. The plant historically thrived between 4,000 and 8,000 feet elevation in grasslands, chaparral, and mixed woodlands. Its presence across this broad native range reflects adaptation to harsh, variable climates, and its surprising cold hardiness has made it increasingly valued by modern gardeners seeking ornamentals that endure northern winters without coddling.”