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Products > Agave salmiana 'Tony's Tiger'
 
Agave salmiana 'Tony's Tiger' - Variegated Hardy Century Plant
   
Image of Agave salmiana 'Tony's Tiger'
 
Habit and Cultural Information
Category: Succulent
Family: Agavaceae (now Asparagaceae)
Origin: Mexico (North America)
Evergreen: Yes
Yellow/Chartreuse Foliage: Yes
Flower Color: Yellow
Bloomtime: Infrequent
Height: 4-6 feet
Width: 6-12 feet
Exposure: Full Sun
Summer Dry: Yes
Deer Tolerant: Yes
Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs
Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F
May be Poisonous  (More Info): Yes
Agave salmiana 'Tony's Tiger' - A medium sized mostly solitary agave that should grow to 4 to 5 feet tall by about twice as wide with long dark gray-green out-curving leaves variegated along the margins with wide yellow variegation and large teeth. We have not seen this cultivar bloom, but the species produces a tall inflorescence to over 20 feet bearing a candelabra of yellow flowers that attract birds and bees. After flowering it produces suckers to perpetuate the plant.

Plant in full sun where it is drought tolerant. We have had the species weather through nights that dropped to 18° F without damage and suspect this plant will have similar tolerances. The is a very attractive variegated agave.

For more information on the species, see our listing of Agave salmiana". We received this plant in 2012 from Agave specialist Tony Krock as Agave salmiana var. sigmatophylla – likely a reference to Agave atrovirens var. sigmatophylla, an old name Alwin Berger, author of Die Agaven, the German monograph on the genus Agave written in German in 1915, used for the large pulque agave Agave salmiana ssp. salmiana. As it is different from the other variegated Agave salmiana we grow so we felt it needed a name and crowned it 'Tony's Tiger'. 

Information displayed on this page about Agave salmiana 'Tony's Tiger' 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.

 
San Marcos Growers closed for regular business at the end of 2025 as the property is being developed for affordable housing.
While our gates remain closed, we will open them by appointment so we can liquidate remaining plants, supplies and equipment. The plants remaining in the field are listed on our Live Inventory Page.
 
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