Agave albopilosa ‘Tufts’

Small agave with cottony tufts at the tip of each leaf. Great in containers. Very rare and new to cultivation, only discovered in 1997. Thrives in tight spots and pots. Cold-hardy.
Agave albopilosa 'Tufts'
height 8–12in
width 10–14in
tolerates Coast, Cold, Heat, Pots
water
needs		 Low
water
info		 Agave are extremely drought tolerant, and many need no supplemental irrigation in coastal California. They will however look better and grow faster if they are given additional water, especially during summer.
hardy
to		 0F
exposure Part Shade – Part Sun
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix
fertilizing All Purpose, Low Needs
origin Mexico
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 10–24

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

OUTDOOR EXPOSURE GUIDE

Full Sun
Six or more hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Shade
Three to five hours of sun beams directly landing on the plant's leaves.

Part Sun
One to two hours of sun beams directly landing on the plants leaves.

Full Shade
The plant is never fully lit by sun beams, but is in a bright spot or has dappled sunbeams playing over the leaves throughout the day.

Deep Shade
The plant never has dappled light on the leaves, and is in a place that feels dim, even on a nice sunny day.

SUNSET ZONES MAP

Growing Notes

Most agave are monocarpic, meaning that a head will grow larger and larger over time, building up energy, then send off a spectacular flower and afterward decline and die. With pupping varieties, they grow from stolons at the base, constantly replacing the older bloomed out heads with new ones, which then grow larger and flower, continuing the life cycle.
You can ‘pineapple’ your agave, by removing the lowest leaves. This is best started while it is out of the nursery can, but before planting, when you can access leaves from the bottom. This gives the plant a short trunk, textured similar to many palms, and allows you to get under the plant for weeding or removing pups.
This agave grows in tight limestone cracks in habitat, and as such is best suited to pots not the ground.
In our staffs experience this agave does not want a full day of blasting sun.

Special Interest

Some growers have claimed that the tufts on the tips of this agave won’t open unless they are exposed to water, as this plant grows in a fog area of Mexico. If your tufts don’t open try spritzing them with water.