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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Agavaceae (now Asparagaceae) |
| Origin: Mexico (North America) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Infrequent |
| Synonyms: [A. scolymus, A. verschaffletii] |
| Height: 1-2 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
| May be Poisonous (More Info): Yes |
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Agave potatorum 'Mariscal' (Butterfly Agave) - A selection of Agave potatorum, a medium sized solitary agave from the semi-arid highlands between 4,000 and 7,000 feet of Puebla and Oaxaca. As with the species this plant has broad gray leaves that form in an open symmetrical rosette to 1 to 2 feet tall by 2 to 3 feet wide. The many 10 to 18 inch long leaves are slightly reflexed back near the tips with chestnut brown spines; the 1 inch long terminal spine is slightly wavy and the short marginal spines are on tubercle-like prominences. This selection differs in having redder spines and margins than are typical and the 1 inch long red terminal spine is very wavy. When mature a flower spike rises 10 to 20 feet bearing light green flowers tinged with red and subtended with red bracts. This agave rarely offsets so, after maturing, which in our experience begins to occur when plants are as young as 10 years old, it will flower (usually during the fall) and then the entire plant declines and dies. Plant in full sun with little irrigation required in coastal gardens but provide some supplemental irrigation in hotter inland gardens. Winter hardy to around 25 degrees. This species is quite variable in form; some plants have flatter leaves radiating straight out from the crown while others have leaves that are slightly cupped along the margins and are reflexed back. This beautiful agave was appreciated by the Nahuatl Indians who called it 'papalometl' meaning "Butterfly Agave". The specific name "potatorum" is the generative of the Latin word 'potator' meaning "of the drinkers" in reference to the use of this plant in making alcoholic beverages. Our plants from a particularly nice Agave potatorum that was purchased from Mariscal Cactus and Succulents in Fallbrook, California – the plant was cored and vegetatively propagated. This plant is very similar to the best of our seedling plants that we call Agave potatorum 'Swizzle Stick' which have leaves cupped along the margins and reflexed back towards the tips with a long reddish terminal spine that is distinctively wavy in a manner our friend Jeff Chemnick calls a swizzle stick.
The information about Agave potatorum 'Mariscal' 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. |
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