Agave striata forma purpurea (Maguey Espadín) - A unique clustering agave to 2 feet tall and forming a dense clump 3 to 5 feet wide of rosettes with narrow sharp pale green leaves that flush a light purple color. When mature the flowers appear on long unbranched spikes in the fall.
Plant in full sun or light shade (sun brings out the color) in a well-drained soil and irrigated occasionally to very little. Quite hardy. This plant has circulated in the horticultural trades for many years and lacks a cultivar name but we follow the name in Paul Carpenter Standley's Trees and Shrubs of Mexico under his listing for Agave striata where he states: "The purplish form is known in gardens as f. purpurea". We received our stock plants of this plant from Agavemonger Kent Houser.
This information about Agave striata forma purpurea 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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