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Agave cupreata (Dwarf Cowhorn) A medium sized non-suckering Agave that grows to 1 to 2 feet tall by 2 to 3 feet wide with broad pale green leaves that have dark copper-colored spines on large mammilate protrusions (teats) along the slightly wavy margins. The dark teeth contrast well with the pale green leaves that also display well the bud imprinting that occurs when the leaves press up against the margins of the newer leaves in the center of the plant.
Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil. Irrigate little (if at all) to occasionally. Mostly listed as hardy to around 28° F but can go a little colder - large plants in Goleta California were not damaged at 26° F in January 2007. This plant has been aptly described as looking like a larger green Agave colorata or a smaller Agave bovicornuta. It is a nice garden plant and is suitable for container gardening.
The species occurs naturally in the Mexican state of Guerrero and Michoacán where it grows on mountain slopes from 4,000-6,000 feet in the Río Balsas basin. The specific epithet comes from the Latin word 'cupre' meaning "copper" in reference to the copper colored spines of this species.
Our plants are seedling plants from a plant that flowered in the Goleta garden of the late John Bleck. We also grow a selected gray form that we list as Agave cupreata 'Gray Form'.
Information displayed on this page about Agave cupreata is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
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