Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Huachuca Agave
Huachuca Agave is a larger form of Parry's agave from the mountains of southern Arizona. It builds tight rosettes of broad blue-green leaves edged in dark teeth, each about 2 to 4 feet across. It pups freely, so one plant slowly grows into a clump. Use it as a landscape accent, in a native bed or in a large pot, with some afternoon shade in the low desert.
Best for: a bold accent in a desert or native bed, a slowly spreading clump of blue-green rosettes, and a large pot on a patio.
Each rosette grows about 2 to 4 feet across, with broad blue-green leaves edged in dark teeth. Set one where it can stand on its own as an accent in a desert bed.
It pups freely and can form large clumps as it ages. Plant about 3 to 4 feet apart so each clump has room. It pairs well with other Arizona natives that like low water.
It grows faster in the ground, but it also looks good in a large pot. Use a pot with a drainage hole and a fast-draining mix, and let the mix dry between waterings.
The leaf teeth and tip spine are sharp, so give it plenty of space away from walkways and seating. Soil that stays wet can rot it, so plant where water drains away.
- Group planting3 ft apart
- Looser group4 ft apart
Plant into dry soil and wait about 1 to 2 weeks before the first watering, or up to a month in cool weather. Then water about every other week while nights stay above 60°F. Light shade cloth for the first few weeks helps it settle in.
Once rooted, water deeply about every 2 weeks in summer and every 3 to 4 weeks in spring and fall. Let the soil dry out between waterings, and water little or none in winter.
It is rated to about 15°F. Keep the soil dry in winter, since cold, wet soil is when rot sets in.
It pups freely and can form large clumps. Cut pups off with a clean, sharp knife, let the cut dry for several days, then plant them.
Most agaves need no fertilizer. If you feed it, use a light balanced fertilizer in spring or early summer, never on a new transplant and never in fall or winter. It does not need any pruning.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
Is Huachuca Agave the same as Parry's agave?
It is a variety of Parry's agave from the Huachuca Mountains of southern Arizona. It grows larger than most Parry's agaves, with broader blue-green leaves and rosettes about 3 to 4 feet across when mature.
How big does Huachuca Agave get?
Each rosette grows about 2 to 4 feet across and up to about 3 to 4 feet tall. Pups around the base slowly build a wider clump, so leave room for it to spread.
How far apart should I plant it?
Plant about 3 to 4 feet apart, center to center. Use 3 feet for a group and 4 feet to give each clump more room. The Spacing tab on this page has the numbers.
Is Huachuca Agave native to Arizona?
Yes. It grows wild in the sky island mountains of southern Arizona, mainly the Huachuca Mountains, and into northern Mexico. It lives in oak woodland at about 5,000 to 7,000 feet.
Does it need shade in Phoenix?
It takes full sun, but in the low desert it does better with some afternoon shade. Plant it where it gets light shade in the afternoon.
How often should I water it?
Once rooted, water deeply about every 2 weeks in summer and every 3 to 4 weeks in spring and fall. Let the soil dry out between waterings. Water little or none in winter.
How cold hardy is Huachuca Agave?
It is rated to about 15°F, and some growers list it colder. Keep the soil dry in winter, since cold, wet soil is when rot sets in.
Does it make pups?
Yes, it pups freely and can form large clumps in age. To start new plants, cut a pup free with a clean, sharp knife, let the cut dry for several days to a week, then plant it.
Does Huachuca Agave bloom?
Yes, each rosette blooms once, usually after 10 to 20 years. A branching stalk about 10 to 15 feet tall carries yellow flowers that draw birds, bats and insects. That rosette then dies, and its pups carry on.
Can I grow it in a pot?
Yes, it looks good in a large container, though it grows faster in the ground. Use a pot with a drainage hole and a fast-draining mix.
Are the spines sharp?
Yes. The leaf edges carry dark teeth and each leaf ends in a sharp tip spine. Plant it well away from walkways, seating and pools, and wear heavy gloves when you handle it.
Is it poisonous to pets?
Agave sap can irritate a pet's mouth and skin and upset the stomach if chewed, though it is rarely serious. The teeth and tip spine can also poke. Keep pets from chewing on it.
Huachuca Agave for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Huachuca Agave is a variety of Parry's agave that grows wild in the oak woodlands of the Huachuca Mountains and nearby ranges in southern Arizona. It forms bigger rosettes with broader leaves than most Parry's agaves. Below is what to expect from it in a Valley yard, from sun, water and spacing to size, pups and blooming.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Huachuca Agave vs Parry's agave
Huachuca Agave is a variety of Parry's agave. It grows larger than most Parry's agaves, with broader blue-green leaves. Its rosettes reach about 3 to 4 feet across when mature.
How big does Huachuca Agave get?
Each rosette grows about 2 to 4 feet across. It pups freely and forms wider clumps over the years. Give it room to spread in a bed.
How far apart to plant Huachuca Agave
Plant about 3 to 4 feet apart, center to center. Use 3 feet for a group and 4 feet to let each clump fill in. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your bed.
Does Huachuca Agave need afternoon shade in Phoenix?
It takes full sun, but in the low desert it does better with some afternoon shade. Plant it where it gets light shade in the afternoon.
Is Huachuca Agave native to Arizona?
Yes. It grows wild in the sky island mountains of southern Arizona, mainly the Huachuca Mountains, and into northern Mexico. It lives in oak woodland at about 5,000 to 7,000 feet.
When does Huachuca Agave bloom?
Each rosette blooms once, usually after 10 to 20 years. A branching stalk about 10 to 15 feet tall carries yellow flowers for birds, bats and insects. The rosette then dies, and its pups keep the clump going.
How cold hardy is Huachuca Agave?
It is rated to about 15°F, and some growers list it colder. Keep the soil dry in winter, since cold, wet soil is when rot sets in.
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