Artichoke Agave
Agave parryi var. truncata. USDA zone 7a-10b, hardy to 0F. Lives: Poolside and back patio, OKC.
About this Artichoke Agave
Agave parryi var. truncata, commonly known as the Artichoke Agave, is a compact, symmetrical succulent native to the grasslands and oak-juniper woodlands of Durango, Mexico. It forms a dense, globe-shaped rosette of broad, blue-gray leaves with reddish-brown marginal teeth and a stout terminal spine — the tight, layered arrangement giving the plant its striking resemblance to an artichoke. Mature specimens typically reach 2 feet tall and 3 feet wide. Like other Parry's agaves, it is monocarpic, producing a spectacular flower spike of 20–30 feet after 10–15 years before the main rosette dies, though basal offsets often carry on the colony. It is widely considered one of the most cold-hardy agaves available, tolerating temperatures down to 0°F when grown in well-draining soil and kept relatively dry through winter.
Picked up on a Sunday afternoon visit to TLC Nursery in Edmond on March 29th, 2026 — always a dangerous place to walk through without a shopping list. The compact artichoke form is immediately eye-catching, and for an Oklahoma grower chasing cold-hardy agaves, this one felt like a must-have. It's now settled on the back patio and we'll see how it handles its first winter.