Agave parryi ssp. huachucensis
Native range: Huachuca, Patagonia, and Santa Rita Mountains of Arizona and northern Mexico
Known names: Huachuca Agave, Parry's Agave
Hardiness: USDA Zone 8 (10-20°F) to 11, exceptionally cold-hardy.
Mature Size: 1.5'-2.5' tall, 2'-3' wide (moderate grower, typically adding 2"-4" per year)
Light: Half day direct sun, full sun
Water: Allow soil to dry completely between waterings; drought tolerant.
Soil: Extremely well-draining, gritty cactus and succulent mix.
Dormancy Period: Winter
Pet-Safe: No
Plant Size: Grown in 4" pot, shipped bare root.
 
Agave parryi ssp. huachucensis is a compact form of A. perryi that forms a dense, globular rosette of wide, powdery blue-gray leaves armed with prominent dark brown marginal teeth and a sharp terminal spine. It produces a towering, branching flower stalk up to 15 feet tall bearing bright yellow clusters after many years of growth, after which the parent rosette dies. In cultivation, it requires a site with bright direct sunlight and an extremely well-draining, gritty succulent soil, making it well-suited for container specimens or arid rock gardens due to its established drought tolerance. Its subspecies name huachucensis refers to the Huachuca Mountains of southern Arizona, where native populations thrive at high elevations.