Agave attenuata 'Boutin Blue' - Inland Valley Garden Planner

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Description

The Blue fox tail agave is a section of A. attenuata, and gets its name from its distinctive blue-gray foliage color. It develops a strong rosette shape comprised of thick, bold leaves to form plants 3-5 ft. in size. This selection of agave will grow for many years before flowering and can develop 1-2 ft. tall trunks. Mature plants will develop long arching flower stalks covered with thousands of small yellow and cream colored flowers. This provides a striking floral display for 1-2 months.

Blue fox tail agave is a handsome foliage and flowering accent plant in southwestern and Mediterranean style gardens. It grows best in sunny locations and with low to very low amounts of supplemental water throughout summer. It is used in containers, raised planters and in group plantings on slopes and banks.

Water Needs

Blue fox tail agave is well adapted to frost-free parts of the Inland Empire in sunny exposures with normal winter rains and low amounts of summer irrigation. The chart shown below provides a recommended baseline guide to the monthly irrigation schedule and volume of supplemental water needed to maintain healthy growth throughout the average year. It should be noted there are several months indicated by an asterisk (*) when winter rains often provide sufficient moisture and irrigation is not needed. The high and low range of moisture indicates Blue fox tail agave can grow with varying amounts of water; little supplemental water is needed during summer following the flowering cycle.

Irrigation Schedule and Graph

Low Water Use Plants

Irrigation Schedule 1

	Jan*	Feb*	Mar*	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov*	Dec*
Runs per Month	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	1x	0x to 2x	0x to 2x
Inches per Run	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"

Inches per Month	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	1"	0" to 2"	0" to 2"

Range of supplemental summer water: 7"
Range of supplemental winter water: 0"-10"

0"-2"

Jan*

Feb*

Mar*

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov*

Dec*

For more information on how to use this Irrigation Schedule and Graph, click here.

Plant Properties

Plant Type: Agave
Foliage Character: Evergreen
Habit: Upright, Rigid, Clumping
Growth Rate: Moderate
Height: 3 ft. - 5 ft.
Width: 3 ft. - 5 ft.
Water Needs: Low 1
Foliage Color: Blue gray
Flower Color: Yellow
Flower Season: Insignificant
Soil Adaptations: Well-draining soil
Exposure Adaptations: Wind, Heat, Drought, All day sun
Function: Specimen, Residential spaces, Raised planters, Hummingbird plant, Grouped, Foliage accent plant, Container plant, Commercial spaces, Civic spaces, Borders, Banks

Maintenance

This is an easy to grow Agave that actually looks best in light to partial shade in inland gardens. It also grows well in full sun but may experience some leaf burn in direct summer sun. Plants grow in clumps with smaller "pups" growing near the base of the larger rosettes. After a number of years in the garden, larger rosettes will form a dramatic flower stalk. After this flower stalk fades, the rosette it emerged from will die and will need to be removed. Usually by then a number of smaller rosettes have grown at the base and will be ready to fill the space left open. Plants smaller pups can be easily removed and replanted. To propagate or move, simply cut the stem, leave in the shade for the cut to "scab over" for a few days, and replant with the stem in the ground in the new desired location. Stems easily send out roots and re-establish the plant in the new location. Clumps of Fox Tail Agave can get wide, so it is best not to plant it too close to the edges of paths or driveways where it might need to be constantly hacked back (S).

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