Mescal / Parry's Agave (Agave parryi): Compact, Blue-Gray Rosette with Cream Flowers

Overview

Parry's agave (Agave parryi), also called mescal, forms a dense, compact rosette of fleshy, blue-gray leaves. It produces tall, cream-colored flowers tinged with red or pink in summer. Slow-growing, drought-tolerant, and highly architectural.

Botanical Details

• Genus: Agave
• Species: parryi
• Synonyms: A. neomexicana

Culture & Uses

Full sun, dry to medium, well-drained soil. Remove offsets in spring or autumn. Scale, mealybug; root rot in poor drainage. Attracts hummingbirds. Use in containers, desert gardens, rock gardens. Slow grower. Hardy in USDA zones 7-10.