Plant Min Zone: 6a
Plant Max Zone: 10b
Sunlight: All Day Full Sun, Full Sun
Water / Rainfall: Very Low
Soil Quality: Poor
Bloom Season: None
Flower Color: None
Berry / Fruit Color: None
Spring Foliage Color: Silver-Grey
Summer Foliage Color: Silver-Grey
Fall Foliage Color: Silver-Grey
Evergreen Foliage: Yes
Winter Interest: Yes
Scented Flowers: No
Drought Tolerance: High
Wet-Feet Tolerance: Low
Humidity Tolerance: Medium
Wind Tolerance: High
Poor Soil Tolerance: Rocky Soils, Sandy Soils, Shallow Soils, Alkaline Soils (high PH)
Height: 1' - 2'
Width: 1' - 2'
Growth Rate: Extremely Slow
Service Life: Long: 5-10 years
Maintenance Need: Almost Zero Maintenance
Spreading Potential: Extremely Low
Yearly Trimming Tips: Yuccas and Cacti Need No Trimming Except to Remove the Dead Flower Stalk.
Plant Grouping Size: Specimen Planting of 1-3, Small Grouping of 3-5
Best Side of House: South Exposure, West Exposure
Extreme Planting Locations: Survives Under Roof Overhang, Survives Severe Drought, Tolerates Extreme Heat, Resistant to Rabbits, Crevice Gardens
Ornamental Features: Multiple Seasons of Interest, Exceptional / Colorful Foliage
Special Landscape Uses: None
Possible Pest Problems: Foliage Disease, Stem/Crown Disease, Root Rot Disease
Plant Limitations: Needs Excellent Drainage
Powder Blue leaves from this agave (Agave parryi var. couesii) make an excellent architectural statement. Used as a patio plant in Kansas, place in full sun with no extra watering except from rainfall. Repotting may or may not be needed depending on how large you want the plant to grow. Potted plants are hardy to at least 0-5 degrees F if kept dry so you can wait awhile to move these in for the winter. Then move into a cold garage, basement, or window over the winter with NO watering. Luckily monocarpic flowering will never occur in a potted agave so you don't have to worry about death after flowering. A suggestion to make this plant a lot more safe around your eyeballs is to clip the new spines off as the new leaves slowly unfurl. Although un-tested by the author, this agave could survive in a microclimate under a south facing roof overhang kept completely dry in the winter and controlled water in the summer. A planting in Stillwater Oklahoma has survived 20 years on an exposed sandstone retaining wall and endured temperatures as low as negative 19 F one winter and a week of negative night temperatures in 2021 with some foliage damage. As a winter-only house plant, it will look presentable all winter long with just no waterings. As a permanent house plant, provide bright light and allow the soil to dry between waterings for many years of carefree enjoyment. An large established potted plant in our Lawrence, KS (zone 6a) cold frame survived 0 degrees F for a couple days and lows in the single digits or teens for a week. It was kept dry but with no mulch or protection, accidentally being left on a raised greenhouse bench. It appeared frozen solid with a leaf breaking off and ice crystals visible! Amazingly, absolutely no damage occured when it thawed; must be filled with some kind of natural antifreeze or stretchy cell walls!