Scientific Name
Agave gypsophila Gentry
Common Name(s)
Blue Wave Agave, Gypsiferous, Gypsum Century Plant
Scientific Classification
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Agavoideae
Genus: Agave
Origin
Agave gypsophila is native to southwestern Mexico. It grows on gypsum hillsides and calcareous soils in Guerrero, Michoacan, Colima, and Jalisco.
Description
Agave gypsophila is a succulent plant that forms a rosette of wavy, gray leaves with small, soft, sharp marginal teeth and a dark brown terminal spine. The rosette can grow up to 3.3 feet (1 m) tall and 6.6 feet (2 m) in diameter. It usually grows solitary but may produce a few offsets at the base as it ages. The young leaves are pale gray-green and clasp together tube-like before expanding out and turning wavier and grayer in color.
The rosette produces orange-yellow flowers on a much-branched inflorescence that can reach up to 10 feet (3 m) in height, usually in summer.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Agave is not a difficult plant to grow. They're slow-growing and dramatic and will even thrive on a bit of neglect. If you're the type of person who likes to fuss with houseplants and water a lot, Agave is probably not the plant for you. If, however, you're the type of person who likes to set it and forget it, and you have a sunny window, Agave might be the way to go. Be aware that some large varieties will eventually outgrow your room (unless you have a large greenhouse), and Agave can be aggressive. They have irritating sap and sometimes sharp thorns that can injure small children and pets.
In general, Agaves do not need to be repotted every year. Most species commonly found in cultivation grow slowly and take long to outgrow their pot. It's also best to handle your Agave as little as possible since they dislike being disturbed. When repot, refresh the spent soil with a new potting mix and make sure the plant is firmly anchored in its pot. However, be careful not to pot the Agave too deep, encouraging stem rot during the growing season.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Agave.
Links
- Back to genus Agave
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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