Agave Parrasana
Agave parrasana – Cabbage Head Agave: A Compact Desert MarvelSay hello to the Agave parrasana, or Cabbage Head Agave, a slow-growing succulent that packs a punch in small spaces. This Mexican native forms a tight, globe-like rosette of thick, blue-green leaves, growing 1-2 feet tall and wide. Each leaf is dusted with a silvery sheen, edged with gnarly reddish-brown teeth, and capped with a stout, dark spine—think artichoke vibes with a desert twist. It rarely offsets, keeping its solo act tidy and striking.
Care Lowdown:
• Sun: Full sun is its jam—5-8 hours daily keeps it compact and colorful. Partial shade is fine, but it won’t flex as hard.
• Water: Drought-tough—water deeply every 2-3 weeks in summer, letting soil dry out completely between. In winter, back off to once a month or less.
• Soil: Loves gritty, well-drained soil—cactus mix or sandy gravel mimics its mountain roots perfectly.
A rock garden rockstar or potted patio king, this agave thrives in USDA zones 7b-10b, handling dry cold down to 10°F (-12°C)—just keep it dry in freezes. After 10-25 years, mature plants may shoot up a 12-20-foot flower spike with red buds opening to yellow—a grand finale before the rosette bows out, sometimes leaving a few pups behind. Safe to touch but keep pets from the sap.
Agave parrasana – Cabbage Head Agave: A Compact Desert MarvelSay hello to the Agave parrasana, or Cabbage Head Agave, a slow-growing succulent that packs a punch in small spaces. This Mexican native forms a tight, globe-like rosette of thick, blue-green leaves, growing 1-2 feet tall and wide. Each leaf is dusted with a silvery sheen, edged with gnarly reddish-brown teeth, and capped with a stout, dark spine—think artichoke vibes with a desert twist. It rarely offsets, keeping its solo act tidy and striking.
Care Lowdown:
• Sun: Full sun is its jam—5-8 hours daily keeps it compact and colorful. Partial shade is fine, but it won’t flex as hard.
• Water: Drought-tough—water deeply every 2-3 weeks in summer, letting soil dry out completely between. In winter, back off to once a month or less.
• Soil: Loves gritty, well-drained soil—cactus mix or sandy gravel mimics its mountain roots perfectly.
A rock garden rockstar or potted patio king, this agave thrives in USDA zones 7b-10b, handling dry cold down to 10°F (-12°C)—just keep it dry in freezes. After 10-25 years, mature plants may shoot up a 12-20-foot flower spike with red buds opening to yellow—a grand finale before the rosette bows out, sometimes leaving a few pups behind. Safe to touch but keep pets from the sap.
Agave parrasana – Cabbage Head Agave: A Compact Desert MarvelSay hello to the Agave parrasana, or Cabbage Head Agave, a slow-growing succulent that packs a punch in small spaces. This Mexican native forms a tight, globe-like rosette of thick, blue-green leaves, growing 1-2 feet tall and wide. Each leaf is dusted with a silvery sheen, edged with gnarly reddish-brown teeth, and capped with a stout, dark spine—think artichoke vibes with a desert twist. It rarely offsets, keeping its solo act tidy and striking.
Care Lowdown:
• Sun: Full sun is its jam—5-8 hours daily keeps it compact and colorful. Partial shade is fine, but it won’t flex as hard.
• Water: Drought-tough—water deeply every 2-3 weeks in summer, letting soil dry out completely between. In winter, back off to once a month or less.
• Soil: Loves gritty, well-drained soil—cactus mix or sandy gravel mimics its mountain roots perfectly.
A rock garden rockstar or potted patio king, this agave thrives in USDA zones 7b-10b, handling dry cold down to 10°F (-12°C)—just keep it dry in freezes. After 10-25 years, mature plants may shoot up a 12-20-foot flower spike with red buds opening to yellow—a grand finale before the rosette bows out, sometimes leaving a few pups behind. Safe to touch but keep pets from the sap.
