Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Quazimoto Agave
Quazimoto Agave, also sold as Agave 'Cornelius', is a small agave with short, thick, wavy leaves striped green and gold. It grows slowly into a low clump about 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide. The wavy, striped leaves make it a bright accent in a pot or a rock garden. It needs little water once rooted.
Best for: patio pots and containers, small rock gardens, and a low, colorful accent in a dry bed kept back from walkways.
It grows slowly and stays low, so it holds its shape in a patio pot for years. Use a pot with a drainage hole and a fast-draining mix, and water only when it is dry.
The wavy green and gold leaves stand out against boulders and gravel. It slowly fills out into a small, open clump close to the first rosette.
Once rooted it needs occasional to very little water. Plant it where it gets full sun and can stay dry in winter.
It is damaged below about 20 to 25°F, colder than the plain century plant handles. The leaves have toothed edges and a sharp tip, and wet soil can rot it.
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.
Once rooted it needs occasional to very little water. Soak it about every 2 weeks in summer and keep it dry in winter, when wet soil can rot it.
Cover it with frost cloth that reaches the ground on nights near 20°F, or move a pot to a sheltered spot by the house. Uncover it in the morning.
Wear heavy gloves when you plant or move it, since the leaf edges are toothed and the tips are sharp. You can snip off the tip spines if it sits near a path.
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.
What is Quazimoto Agave?
It is a variegated dwarf agave sold as Agave 'Cornelius', also spelled Quasimoto or Quasimodo. It is thought to come from the century plant, but that has never been confirmed because it rarely blooms.
How big does Quazimoto Agave get?
It grows about 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide over time. It is slow, so a young plant stays small for years.
Does it make pups?
Only a few, and slowly. It forms a small, open colony that stays close to the main rosette, so it will not wander across a bed.
Does it have spines?
Yes. The leaf edges carry stout teeth and each leaf ends in a sharp tip. Plant it back from walkways and play areas, and wear gloves when you handle it.
How cold hardy is Quazimoto Agave?
It handles about 20 to 25°F. On colder nights, cover it with frost cloth that reaches the ground, or move a potted plant against the house, and uncover it in the morning.
How often should I water it?
Water occasionally to very little once it is rooted. A deep soak about every 2 weeks in summer is plenty, and keep it dry in winter.
Can I grow Quazimoto Agave in a pot?
Yes, it is well suited to containers. Use a fast-draining mix in a pot with a drainage hole, and let the mix dry between waterings.
Does it bloom?
It blooms only rarely, and when it does, it sends up a tall, branched stalk of yellow flowers after many years. Like most agaves, that rosette then dies.
Is it poisonous to pets?
Agaves are mildly poisonous if chewed. The sap can irritate a pet's mouth and skin and upset the stomach, so keep pets from chewing on it.
Quazimoto Agave for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Quazimoto Agave (Agave 'Cornelius') is a variegated dwarf agave with short, thick, wavy leaves edged in gold. It is thought to come from Agave americana, the century plant, but stays far smaller. Here is what to expect: size, sun, water, cold, pups and spines.
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.
Quazimoto Agave or Agave 'Cornelius'?
They are the same plant. It is sold as Agave 'Cornelius' and also spelled Quasimoto or Quasimodo.
How big does Quazimoto Agave get in Arizona?
It reaches about 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide, growing slowly. It makes only a few pups, which stay close to the main rosette.
Is Quazimoto Agave cold hardy?
It handles about 20 to 25°F. Cover it with frost cloth on the coldest Valley nights, or keep it in a pot you can move to shelter.
Watering Quazimoto Agave
Once rooted, it needs occasional to very little water. A deep soak about every 2 weeks in summer is enough, with the soil kept dry in winter.
Quazimoto Agave in a pot
Its slow growth and small size suit a patio pot. Use fast-draining mix in a pot with a drainage hole.
Does Quazimoto Agave have spines?
Yes. The leaf edges have stout teeth and a sharp tip, so plant it back from walks and wear gloves when handling it.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.