[Arid_gardener] Agave Recommendations

[Olin Miller]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kelly Conroy" <kconroy at indigopartners.net>
To: <arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 9:53 AM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Agave Recommendations


>
> ...want to integrate a
> gravelled area that is filled with aligned agaves in 3 rows of 4 agaves.
> That said, I have the following questions:
>
> 1) Are agaves toxic to dogs?

Can't say.  Dogs tend to avoid (as in ignore) the plants - at least ours
did.

> 2) What is the best type of agave to utilize that stays relatively small
> (less than 24").  Because of the dogs, we'd prefer a type that is less
> thorny but not totally rounded on the edges.  While I prefer the bluish
> agave's, I realize they may only grow to the larger sizes of 36 - 60".

There are many choices.  The Master Gardener offices listed at
http://cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/html/general/question.htm

will have books with descriptions and photos and can offer suggestions.
Also visit the Desert Botanical Garden or some of the other xeriscape
gardens listed at
http://www.amwua.org/conservation/demo_gardens.htm

I rather like A. parryi which has a compact growth habit.

> 3) What can we expect to pay for each agave?

Check at one of the garden centers.  I have never purchased one.  They are
very easy to grow from pups or small plantlets.

> 4) Do agaves need to be on a drip? Or will they survive the droughts and
> survive on rain water alone?

Watering in a basin once or twice a week at first is helpful.  After that
water monthly in the summer.   I would not rely on rainfall.  I find that
the soaker driplines with emitters at 6" or 1 foot encircling the plant work
very well.

Answers to a few questions you didn't ask.

a.  Agaves send up their infloresence once, then die.  The time that this
will happen is not predictible.  But plants taken as pups or plantlets from
a single agave tend to inflouresce at nearly the same time.

b.  The agave snout weevil is a serious pest .  For a description  and
control, see
http://cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/html/t-tips/bugs/agave-wv.htm