Virginia Tech Dendrology

artichoke agave Agavaceae Agave parryi Engelm. symbol: AGPA4
Leaf: Evergreen, succulent, pale green to glaucous blue, forming a rosette of entire to spine-edged leaves, each leaf tipped with a long (to 1 inch) red-brown spine.
Flower: A tree-like flower stalk to 20 feet tall that is produced once, generally after the rosette reaches about 20 years old; side branches bear clusters of yellow flowers; flowering mid-summer.
Fruit: A dry leathery/woody capsule 2 inches long.
Form: An artichoke-like basal rosette growing to 2 feet tall by 3 feet wide, with occasional flowering stalks to 20 feet tall.

Additional Range Information: Agave parryi is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information