MBN 1Gal Agave attenuata

A soft-leaved, succulent, unarmed Agave. This is loved for its wonderfully soft, rubbery leaves, complete lack of spines, powdery glaucous coating, and soft jade green color. It says "tropical desert" when used in a landscape, and I would say it is one of the best foliage plants ever invented. It is hard to find a spot where it doesn't look good. It really shines in part shade, where the leaves can extend to their full size and there is less risk of sunbleaching under the hottest conditions. This species also sends up a tremendous flower spike, to about 10-15' high, of creamy white flowers in spring, when mature enough, that is quite spectacular in its own right but too infrequently seen to beplanted for that feature alone. Hard freezes will damage the foliage but it usually renews itself reasonably quickly. Extended hard frosts below 25°F will often kill it completely though. Temperatures between that and freezing can disfigure it horribly to various degrees, sometimes permanently, so give it good protection in Northern California. You don't want to use this where it will be damaged every year. It is too ugly when recovering, and it is too painful to watch the plant suffer through the process. Have mercy. If you do want to use it in a colder climate just put it in a pot, where its succulent nature is highly forgiving of both root confinement as well as inadequate watering and you can move it around to use it to its best effect. To about 30" across and tall when mature.