Agave, Hardy Century Plant, Maguey 'Jaws'

This plant is no longer widely available in retail channels, but it’s been almost bulletproof for me. It has survived neglect, snow, ic...Read Moree, and cold with few problems. For any plant, you need to remember that it’s roughly two zones less hardy in winter in a pot than in the ground. If this agave is grown in the ground, and is kept reasonably dry in winter by planting on a slope and possibly covering it for winter when it is a young pup or tissue-cultured plantlet, it should not have serious issues in Zone 7b and higher. Mine has survived several winters with minimal dieback and produced many pups, most of which have also survived with only a plastic cover for protection.

Love this Agave. Such a gorgeous plant.
It didn't survive our extended record cold (mid-teens for over a week), this past winter,...Read More 2017-18.
I am definitely getting another.

Left outside on a west facing 5th floor balcony for ~ 12 hours during the January 2014 "polar vortex" (lows in the upper teens w/ some wi...Read Morend). Normally handles mid 20's no problem, but this was too much. Got nervous and brought it inside in the morning, was frozen solid, attempted a hair dryer emergency thaw. Immediate discoloration, and w/in a few days all the outer leaves started to rot. Cut those away and the inner shoots appear to be unscathed. We'll see how it goes...also FYI, I think we'd had some rain a few days before so that probably didn't help.

I bought this agave last summer for an outdoor container plant, but I don't think it's cold hardy in my rural zone 8a backyard. Dec 2010...Read More was brutal here, with many lows in the teens - lowest temp 13f! My plant is already burnt and damaged, even after moving it under a loquat tree for frost protection. More teens are in the upcoming forecast, so I'm bringing it indoors until mild weather returns.