Agave potatorum ‘Variegata’

butterfly agave
Red teeth contrast against cream margins on blue-grey leaves that flare toward the tip. Mesmerizing geometry with time.
Agave potatorum 'Variegata'
height 8–18in
width 12–20in
tolerates Drought, Heat, Pots, Rooftops, Neglect, Wind
water
needs		 Low
water
info		 Agave plants are extremely drought tolerant, and many including this one 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		 26F
exposure Part Sun – Full Sun
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
fertilizing All Purpose 1/2 Strength, Low Needs
origin C Mexico
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 13, 15–24, H2

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

Growing Notes

Most agave, including this one, are monocarpic, meaning that a head will grow larger and larger over time, building up energy, then send off a spectacular flower, after which they decline and die.
Take care when pruning or removing agaves, as many have a toxic sap that causes inflammation and rashing. Removing spent agave heads can also be tricky as they are often ringed with other armed agaves. If you like the look of agaves, but are threatened by the terminal spikes, they can be removed. It’s easiest to cut these off when they are coming out of the rosette as you’ll be able to prune the thorns off many layers of leaves at one time.
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.
Agaves are a great choice to grow in a pot and this is one of the best, being naturally on the smaller side.

Special Interest

Agave are excellent ‘home defense’ tools when planted along a fence line or beneath windows.