Pronounciation: A-GA-ve ha-var-dee-A-na

Hardiness zones
Sunset 10-24
USDA 6-11

Landscape Use: Strong, blue-gray accent, focal point for desert gardens; oasis and xeric landscape design themes. Great for use around desert and oasis ramadas and patios, even in large tub containers.

Form & Character: Strongly upright, broadly spreading, wide, exposed, stiff and pointed, imposing, arid.

Growth Habit: Evergreen, succulent, yet fibrous perennial, monocarpic, solitary (non-offsetting) with a hemispherical rosette of stiff foliage reaching anywhere from 2- to 4-feet tall by 3- to 5-feet across; eventual size much influenced by available water.

Foliage/Texture: Broad, bluish-gray leaves are presented in a regular rosette pattern, somewhat reflexed, strap-shaped, succulent, grayish to 4-feet long. Leaves are coarsely serrate and taper to a distinct sharp and dangerous grayish-black spiny tip; very coarse texture.

Flowers & Fruits: Tall, aborescent flower stalks bearing orange yellow flowers.

Seasonal Color: None, except when flowering.

Temperature: Tough, very cold hardy to 5^oF, some heat tolerance also.

Light: Full sun in higher elevations of Arizona (aka Prescott and Payson), but will need some protection from western sun in lower desert locations such as Phoenix.

Soil: Well-drained best.

Watering: Apply only occasional water once established. It readily responds to water by increasing growth and eventual size.

Pruning: None

Propagation: Seed, offshoots.

Disease and Pests: None

Additional comments: Harvard agave is a striking and imposing medium-sized agave that lives generally for 20 to 30 years before flowering. The blue-gray color accent of its foliage is striking when juxapositioned to nearby landscape greenery. Its 'field' identification can be difficult as it is similar in appearance to Agave applanta and Agave parryi, especially when young.