Native to warm, arid regions of the Americas, particularly Mexico, most types of agave plants like it hot. But while these plants are beloved for their ability to thrive under the sun with very little water—not to mention the striking silhouettes they add to a garden—there are certain types of agave plants that can survive a cold winter too. Here's a selection of our favorite cold hardy agave.
Durango Delight
'Durango Delight' (Agave schidigera) is a compact agave type with dense leaves accented by curly white hairs. When it flowers, it sends up a red purple bloom on a stalk up to 10 feet tall. It's hardy to temperatures as low as 10°F.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and deep, infrequent water
Size: 18 to 24 inches tall and 2 feet wide
Zones: 8-10b
Artichoke
Named for its resemblance to the vegetable, artichoke agave (Agave parryi var. truncata) has leaves that curl in tightly for an adorable rounded form. Tiny red teeth outline the silver-blue leaves. While this agave type prefers full sun, it can handle part shade too, and is hardy to 15°F.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and deep, infrequent water
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide
Zones: 6-11
Fox Tail
For an agave without spiky edges, try the elegant fox tail variety (Agave attenuata), which features smooth, pale green leaves. The plant, which is hardy to 25°F, gets its name from the arching flower stalk it produces.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and deep, infrequent water
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide
Zones: 9-12
Blue Glow
The blue-green leaves outlined in red make 'Blue Glow' (Agave attenuata x Agave ocahui) a favorite type of agave among garden designers. Slow growing and compact, it does well in containers and is hardy to 25°F.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and deep, infrequent water
Size: 18 to 24 inches tall and 2 to 3 feet wide
Zones: 8-11
Queen Victoria
Named for the queen of England, the stately and rare Queen Victoria agave (Agave victoriae-reginae) features a tight, symmetrical rosette of dark green leaves with white markings along their edges. It's hardy to 12°F.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and deep, infrequent water
Size: 1 foot tall and 18 inches wide
Zones: 7-11
Dwarf Butterfly
An unusual cultivar believed to originate in Japan, dwarf butterfly agave, aka 'Kichiokan Marginata' (Agave potatorum) forms a compact and tidy rosette of gray-blue leaves with prominent red teeth. It will survive in temperatures as low as 25°F.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and deep, infrequent water
Size: 1 feet tall and 18 inches wide
Zones: 8-11
Ocahui
The narrow, straight leaves give the Ocahui agave (Agave ocahui) an appearance reminiscent of another low-water favorite, the yucca plant. Unlike many agave, this variety does not produce offsets. It's hardy to 15°F.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and deep, infrequent water
Size: 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide
Zones: 8-11
Huachuca
A type of artichoke agave, 'Huachuca' (Agave parryi var. huachucensis) has luminous silver leaves tipped in black that stand out in a green landscape. The mother plant will die if allowed to flower, but forms plenty of offsets. 'Huachuca' is hardy to around 10°F.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and deep, infrequent water
Size: 18 to 24 inches tall and 2 to 3 feet wide
Zones: 8-12
Octopus
The aptly named 'Octopus' agave (Agave vilmoriniana) sends out foliage that gracefully curls at the ends. Cold hardy to around 25°F, it produces plantlets near its bloom that can be replanted after the mother flowers and dies.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and deep, infrequent water
Size: 3 to 4 feet tall and 5 to 6 feet wide
Zones: 9-11
Arizona Star
For a standout focal point in the landscape that can grow as large as a shrub, opt for 'Arizona Star' (Agave weberi). This type of agave, which is hardy to 10°F, is larger than many others in the family, and features interesting yellow-striped leaves.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and deep, infrequent water
Size: 4 to 5 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide
Zones: 8b-10b
Is your region too cold for your chosen agave? Keep it in a pot and bring it indoors. Agave do well as houseplants, as long as they're placed in a sunny spot, like a south- or west-facing window.
Weber's Blue Tequila
'Weber's Blue Tequila' (Agave tequilana) is famed for providing the sap used to make tequila. But it's also a favorite in xeriscapes, thanks to showy, sword-like leaves and fast-growing, impressive form. The plant can take some chilly nights, too, as it's hardy to 20°F.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and deep, infrequent water
Size: 5 to 8 feet tall and 5 to 8 feet wide
Zones: 9-10
Marginata
'Americana' (Agave americana) brightens the landscape with its yellow-variegated curling leaves. Sometimes found under the name 'Variegata', this type of agave can handle temperatures as low as 10°F.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and deep, infrequent water
Size: 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide
Zones: 8a-11b
Quadricolor
A relatively small agave, 'Quadricolor' (Agave lophantha) makes an outsized impact on a landscape, thanks to its unusual variegated foliage. Yellow and green leaves are accented by dark red teeth. The plant is hardy to 10°F.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and deep, infrequent water
Size: 1 to 2 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide
Zones: 8-11
Narrow Leaved Century Plant
Long, stiff, porcupine-like leaves give the narrow leaved century plant (Agave striata) presence in the garden. This type of agave is extremely cold tolerant, surviving temperatures as low as 0°F. Once it's mature, the agave will have one bloom of golden flowers that attract hummingbirds.
Growing Conditions: Full sun to part shade and deep, infrequent water
Size: 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide
Zones: 7-11
Havard
Native to the mountains of Texas, 'Havard' agave (Agave havardiana) can grow impressively large, even in regions where temperatures dip as low as -20°F. Its broad, silver-blue leaves are lined with tiny teeth.
Growing Conditions: Full sun and deep, infrequent water
Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide
Zones: 5-10
