This plant is new to cultivation but for us it grows well in full coastal sun to light shade with occasional infrequent irrigation. Its hardiness is not known other than its ability to tolerate the mild winter temperatures that have occurred in Santa Barbara in recent years where the lowest temperature experienced has been 31° F.

Agave gracielae is found on limestone rocky outcrops in oak-pine woodlands and montane forests in the Mexican states of Querétaro and San Luis Potosí. This is a recently described species by Raquel Galván and Sergio Zamudio that was first published in the October 2013 issue of Acta Botánica Mexicana>/i> (no.105). This species has characteristics that include it in the Striatae group and within this group it is most closely related to A. dasylirioides, A. petrophila and A. rzedowskiana (described in 2003) and it is closest in size and habit to the later, forming a cluster of many rosettes 35-75 cm wide and holding many (65-230) leaves. Its leaves are more flexible and smoother than A. rzedowskiana and has shorter flower stalks (42-170 cm vs. 150-245 cm) that are decumbent and hold green flowers that have a short basal tube while A. rzedowskiana has more open purple-green campulate flowers on an upright inflorescence. The specific epithet comes from the Latin root gracilis meaning slender, presumably in reference to its slender narrow leaves.

Our plants from a collection of seed made in 2010 in the Valle de los Fantasmas (Valley of the Ghosts) between the towns of San Luis Potosi and Rio Verde near the Village of Las Rucias where it us was growing on rocks with Ceratozamia zaragozae, Brahea decumbens, Bursera and Oak. 

The information about Agave gracielae displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.