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Agave attenuata Ray of Light ['AGAVWS’] PP21,854 (Variegated Fox Tail Agave) – An attractive variegated selection of the soft Foxtail Agave with soft broad leaves that have a fine white variegation along the pale green leaf margin. This variegated clone grows about as large as the species, which eventually will mass up to 4 to 5 feet tall by about twice as wide with individual rosettes that may reach 4 feet wide on stout curving smooth gray stems that rise to 4 feet tall. The wide pale green pliable leaves emerge from a tight central spear to arch gracefully back, looking a bit like a large open green flower and provide a nice foil to the white margins . We have never seen this plant flower but should they do so it would presumably but the same as the species, with mature plants sending up a 5 to 10 foot vertical flower stalk that reflexes back towards the ground before arching upward again, giving this plant the common name Fox-tail agave. The flowers on the species are a pale greenish yellow and are followed by seed pods and often new "plantlets" (or bulbils) forming in the flower axils.
Plant in full coastal sun to shade in moist or dry soils (looks best with regular to occasional irrigation). Tolerates seaside conditions and light frosts, but it will usually be damaged in temperatures below 28° F - we had plants of the species survive the 2007 January freeze with 3 nights in a row down to 25F° F and the December 1990 freeze with brief low temperatures of 18° F, but they were severely disfigured and likely this plant would respond the same. As with other selections of Agave attenuata, this plant presents to the gardener none of the dangers that its spine-covered relatives do. For more information on the species, see our listing of Agave attenuata.
Agave attenuata Ray of Light was discovered in 2003 by Graeme John Burton of Ohaupo, New Zealand as a vegetative sport of Agave attenuata 'Tandarra's Tiger' in a greenhouse in Hamilton, New Zealand. It received US Plant Patent 21,854 in April 2011 and was one of the succulents introduced in the Tessera Succulents collection from Plug Connection. It is one of the few variegated Agave attenuata selections that has been reproducible by micropropagation in the laboratory (tissue culture), though some reversion and mutations have been noted.
This information about Agave attenuata Ray of Light 'AGAVWS’ PP21,854 displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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