Agave pablocarilloi 'Ivory Curls'

Common name(s): Ivory Curls Agave, Variegated Gypsum Agave, Ivory Curls Century Plant

Family: Asparagaceae (Agavaceae) Subfamily: Agavoideae Synonym(s): Agave gypsophila cv. 'Ivory Curls', Agave gypsophila f. marginata variegata

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 5th August, 2025 at Mt Coot tha Botanical Gardens, Queensland

Leaf (Front)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Juvenile Leaf

Taken by Ken Harrington

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Cacti, Succulents, & Allies Properties

Origin(s)

Australia

QLD: Cultivar

Plant Type

Succulent, Evergreen Succulent, Perennial

Succulent,

Evergreen Succulent,

Perennial

Climate Range(s) - Tolerance

Arid-Humid, Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub, Tropical

Arid-Humid,

Temperate Warm,

Mediterranean,

Tropical-Sub,

Tropical

Aspect Range(s)

Sun - Full, Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light

Sun - Full,

Shade - Dappled,

Shade - Light

Habitat Range(s)

Garden, Landscape

Garden,

Landscape

Habitat Zone(s)

Coastal Margins, Dry Valley Slopes, Exposed, Exposed Stony embankments, Garden, Gullies / Valley's / Canyons, Hill Sides, Hills, Landscape, Moist Slopes, Open areas, Ridges, Rock crevices, Rocky, Sandy Dry, Sandy Moist, Scattered, Slopes, Varied, Well drained, Windy

Coastal Margins,

Dry Valley Slopes,

Exposed,

Exposed Stony embankments,

Garden,

Gullies / Valley's / Canyons,

Hill Sides,

Hills,

Landscape,

Moist Slopes,

Open areas,

Ridges,

Rock crevices,

Rocky,

Sandy Dry,

Sandy Moist,

Scattered,

Slopes,

Varied,

Well drained,

Windy

Mature Height

900mm-1m

Mature Width

900mm-1m

Plant Shape

Rosette - Spiked

Growth Rate

Moderate, Fast

Moderate,

Fast

Maturity

6-8 yrs.

Life Span

10-15yrs

Leaf Properties

Leaf Colour (front)

Blue-grey, Cream Variegated, Grey-green

Blue-grey,

Cream Variegated,

Grey-green

Leaf Colour (back)

Blue-grey, Cream Variegated, Grey-green

Blue-grey,

Cream Variegated,

Grey-green

Leaf Shape(s)

Lanceolate

Leaf Texture (front)

Glaucous

Flexible , Fleshy

Flexible,

Fleshy

Leaf Texture (back)

Glaucous

Flexible , Fleshy

Flexible,

Fleshy

Leaf Length(s)

300-400mm, 400-500mm

300-400mm,

400-500mm

Leaf Width(s)

30-40mm, 40-50mm

30-40mm,

40-50mm

Leaf Margin(s)

Spinose

Undulate

Spinose,

Undulate

Leaf Arrangement

Rosette

Leaf Cross Section(s)

Concave

Apice(s)

Acute Broadly

Spinous

Acute Broadly,

Spinous

Base(s)

Truncate

Leaf Aroma

None

Leaf Attachment

Collar Divided

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Bisexual

Flowering Time (start)

Spring Late

Flowering Time (end)

Summer Late

Colour(s)

Yellow-golden

Flower Shape(s)

Tubulate

Pendulous

Arrangement(s)

Panicle

Spike

Panicle,

Spike

Arrangement Size(s)

3-4m

Flowers per Arrangement

many

Root Properties

Type

Fibrous

Tap

Fibrous,

Tap

Texture

Cord-like , Fibrous

Cord-like,

Fibrous

Invasiveness

None

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Shaley, Stony, Calcareous, Premium Potting Mix

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Sand,

Shaley,

Stony,

Calcareous,

Premium Potting Mix

pH Range(s)

Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline

Acid,

Slightly Acid,

Neutral,

Slightly Alkaline

Salinities

Slight

Watering Requirements

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering, WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering,

WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Moderate

Bird Attraction

Nectar

Butterfly Attraction

Moderate

Frog Habitat

None

Coastal

1st Line

Edible(s)

None

Drought Tolerance

Very Good

Frost Tolerance

Poor

Snow Tolerance

None

Minimum Temperature Tolerance

8 - 10°C

Smog Tolerant

Good

Landscape Use

Good

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

Dead Leaf Removal

Special Purpose(s)

Garden-Architectural, Garden-Modern, Garden-Container, Foliage-interesting, Foliage-variegated, Garden-Cacti, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Desert, Garden-Informal, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Rock, Garden-Tropical, Garden-Xeriscape, Irritating-Spines, Specimen, Sunny Dry, Sunny Moist, Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's

Garden-Architectural,

Garden-Modern,

Garden-Container,

Foliage-interesting,

Foliage-variegated,

Garden-Cacti,

Garden-Coastal,

Garden-Courtyard,

Garden-Desert,

Garden-Informal,

Garden-Mediterranean,

Garden-Rock,

Garden-Tropical,

Garden-Xeriscape,

Irritating-Spines,

Specimen,

Sunny Dry,

Sunny Moist,

Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares,

Tolerant-Deer,

Tolerant-Kangaroo's

Dormancy

Winter

Humidity Requirements

Medium, High

Medium,

High

Vulnerability

LC - Least Concern

Altitude Range - Tolerance

0-100m, 100-200m, 200-300m, 300-400m, 400-500m, 500-600m, 600-700m, 700-800m, 800-900m, 900-1,000m

0-100m,

100-200m,

200-300m,

300-400m,

400-500m,

500-600m,

600-700m,

700-800m,

800-900m,

900-1,000m

Fertilising Requirements

FR5, FR6, FR11

FR5,

FR6,

FR11

Wind Tolerance

Strong Winds

Propagation

Tissue Culture, Offsets

General Notes

An attractive, solitary Agave with grey-green leaves, variegated cream margins. Once it has flowered, it will die back and form pups around the base. Produced in S.E. Queensland, Australia by Stan Walkley a well known plantsman, from his nursery.

Agave gypsophila originates from the gypsum and calcerous hillsides of the Mexican states of Colima, Jalisco, Michoacan and Guerrero, so the cultivar is fairly tough and hardy.

There is a couple of other forms available

Agave gypsophila Gentry, blue-grey wavy leaves
Agave gypsophila cv. 'Lemon and Lime', lime green leaves with yellow variegation

Propagation Notes

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Offsets

Flowering

Summer

Division

Spring

Material Preparation

Being careful of the spiny teeth, select offsets that are formed well. With a sharp knife, slice down the side of the stem of the mother plant to remove the offset with any possible roots attached. If roots are attached then the offset can be potted up straight away. If not roots are attached, remove lower leaves to expose approximately 20 - 25mm of stem. Place to one side and allow the wound to callous for 1 - 2 weeks.

Propagating Mix

Premium Cacti Mix

1 part Premium Potting Soil + 1 part coarse washed Sand

Treatment

ill the pot with mix. Using a dibber make a hole in the middle of the pot of mix a little larger than the stem. Place the offest into the pot of mix being careful of the spines. The offset should stand firm and be approximately 25 - 50mm into the mix. Water the mix thoroughly with Previcur fungicide. Place in cold house, keep moist. Maintain cold house environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock 75-95 %

Nursery Stock 90-99 %

Rooting time:- Field Stock 4 - 8 weeks

Nursery Stock 4 - 8 weeks

Tissue Culture

Notes

As tissue culture requires specialist equipment and techniques no propagation information is given.