Agave stricta 'Rubra'
Native range: Tehuacán Valley, Mexico
Known names: Red Hedgehog Agave
Hardiness: USDA Zone 9 (20-30°F) to 11, protect from prolonged frost and freezing temperatures.
Mature Size: 1'-1.5' tall, 1'-1.5' wide (slow grower, typically adding 1"-2" per year)
Light: Half day direct sun, full sun
Water: Allow soil to dry completely between waterings; drought tolerant., water more often during hot seasons
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 stricta 'Rubra' is a dense and symmetrical plant that forms a globose rosette of stiff, needle-like leaves featuring deep reddish-purple to bronze tones (when grown in full, hot sun) It produces a slender, cylindrical flower spike bearing purple or reddish flowers 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 cultivar name 'Rubra' refers to the distinct red coloration of the foliage, which intensifies when grown in high-light conditions.