Agaves are sturdy, architectural plants that provide interest in the garden throughout the year. They make some of the best garden and landscape choices for low maintenance, low water use, and great beauty.
There are numerous choices when it comes to types of agaves you can add to your garden. There's a size and style for almost any need. Some agaves can grow to be quite large, taking up several square feet of space, while others may be only a few inches tall and wide when they are fully grown. They also come in an array of colors, ranging from deep green to steely, silvery-blue. Several forms are now available with yellow or white variegation on the leaves, which only adds to their beauty.
Agaves are native desert plants, but one of the most common mistakes people make is placing them in direct desert sun. In the wild, many agaves grow alongside scrub oak or other larger plants that provide some degree of shade during the hottest parts of the day. Agaves have a very large and deep, woody root system. This helps them search for water far and wide, but it also means that transplanting can be very difficult as the plants grow. So be sure to site them where you want them when you plant so they don't have to be moved later.
