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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Agavaceae (now Asparagaceae) |
| Origin: Mexico (North America) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Infrequent |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
| May be Poisonous (More Info): Yes |
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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. 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. 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. Our plants are seedling plants from a plant that flowered in the Goleta garden of John Bleck. We also grow a selected gray form that we list as Agave cupreata 'Gray Form'. The specific epithet comes from the Latin word 'cupre' meaning "copper" in reference to the copper colored spines of this species.
This information about Agave cupreata 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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