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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Agavaceae (now Asparagaceae) |
| Origin: Mexico (North America) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Infrequent |
| Height: <1 foot |
| Width: Clumping |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
| May be Poisonous (More Info): Yes |
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Agave stricta 'Nana' (Dwarf Hedgehog Agave) - A small agave that grows slowly to form symmetrical rosettes 6 to 10 inches tall and wide of narrow pale green spine-tipped leaves with tiny teeth along the margins that are more rough than sharp to the touch. With time new offsets form at the base from short rhizomes to create attractive tightly packed colonies. Occasionally a rosette will flower with a tall, sometimes crooked stalk, rising well above the foliage in late summer. The rosette of the flowering plant dies off but is quickly replaced by surrounding ones. Plant in full to part sun in a well-drained soil. Those who grow it in desert areas note that it does best with some afternoon shade. Water infrequently. Hardy to at least 20 °F. An attractive and dramatic looking plant that is great as a container subject or planted in a rock garden or along a slope. Use care in placement as the rigid leaves are sharp at the tips. This attractive small agave came to us many years ago from the collection of Stockton succulent collector Alice Waidhoffer. It has remained much smaller than the standard form of Agave stricta. There is certain amount of disagreement in agave circles about the valid name for this plant. Some consider it a variety or cultivar of Agave stricta while others suggest it a synonym for Agave petrophila, but side by side these two plants differ considerably with our Agave stricta 'Nana' having a narrower and much lighter green colored leaves but having recently visited the type locality of Agave stricta near Tehuacan, Puebla, this plant does differ considerably from true Agave stricta as well. We also have seen confusion with the somewhat similar Agave striata with the blue form of this plant sometimes being called A. stricta 'Nana' (Blue Form). We continue to list this plant by the name we received it as until such time as this can be resolved.
This information about Agave stricta 'Nana' 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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