Agave toumeyana var. bella

baby hedgehog agave
Miniature species is the baby hedgehog of agaves, remaining under 8in. Very cold-hardy. Perfect for containers, rockeries.
height 6–8in
width 6–8in
tolerates Drought, Heat, Pots, Rooftops, Neglect, Wind
water
needs		 Lowest
water
info		 Agave plants 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		 -20F
exposure Part Shade – Full Sun
indoor
outdoor		 Outdoor
drainage In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Sandy Soil
fertilizing All Purpose 1/2 Strength, Low Needs
origin Arizona, USA
california
native		 No
sunset
zones		 5–24

Sunset Zones Map

Outdoor Exposure Guide

Growing Notes

Almost all 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 it will decline and die. With pupping varieties, like this one, 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.
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 or removing pups.
Being miniature this is one of the best agave for pots, even very small ones.

Special Interest

Flower of Bella is also smaller than Agave toumeyana.

When agaves set pups they can easily be removed and propagated. It’s best to do this once they start to establish and have some of their own roots.

They’re an excellent ‘home defense’ tool when planted along a fence line or beneath windows.