How to Grow Agave Parryi

Overview

The Agave parryi, also known as the Artichoke Agave, is a beautiful succulent plant that grows in large clumps, reaching about 3 feet tall and wide. This plant requires little care and grows well in hot, dry conditions but can withstand winter temperatures down to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The plant has bluish-gray leaves that can grow as large as 12 inches long and 5 inches wide. The Agave parryi blooms a single, tall golden-yellow flower spike right before the plant dies.

Step 1

Plant your Agave parryi in well-draining, sandy soil where it can receive full sunlight.

Step 2

Dig a planting hole that is the same depth as and twice the width of the Agave parryi's container. Mix into the displaced soil some coarse sand, if the soil is heavier or more nutrient-rich.

Step 3

Place the roots into the planting hole and backfill with the amended soil. Gently firm down the soil around the plant.

Step 4

Water your Agave parryi once every two weeks to supplement rainfall during the summer. Avoid watering the plant during winter to protect its roots against frost damage.

Step 5

Protect your plant from the Agave Snout Weevil, which can tunnel around the plant, damage the stems and eventually kill the Agave parryi. Perform three preventive treatments every year, in March, in April and again in May. Dig a shallow trench around the perimeter of the plant, sprinkle granular Diazinon into the trench and bury the granules. Water the trench to activate the chemical.