Agave ' Blue Glow'

Common name(s): Blue Glow Agave

Family: Asparagaceae (Agavaceae) Subfamily: Agavoideae Synonym(s): Agave attenuata x ocahui 'Blue Glow', Agave 'Shaka Zulu'
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Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington on 5th August, 2025 at Mt Coot tha Botanical Gardens, Queensland
Leaf
Leaves
Taken by Ken Harrington
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Cacti, Succulents, & Allies Properties
Origin(s)
United States
  • New Mexico: Cultivar
Plant Type
Succulent, Evergreen Succulent, Perennial, Solitary
Succulent,
Evergreen Succulent,
Perennial,
Solitary
Climate Range(s) - Tolerance
Arid-Humid, Arid-Semi / Steppe, Oceanic, Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub
Arid-Humid,
Arid-Semi / Steppe,
Oceanic,
Temperate Warm,
Mediterranean,
Tropical-Sub
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full, Shade - Light
Sun - Full,
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, Open areas, Ridges, Rocky, Sandy Dry, Sandy Moist, Scattered, Slopes, Well drained
Coastal Margins,
Dry Valley Slopes,
Exposed,
Exposed Stony embankments,
Garden,
Gullies / Valley's / Canyons,
Hill Sides,
Hills,
Landscape,
Open areas,
Ridges,
Rocky,
Sandy Dry,
Sandy Moist,
Scattered,
Slopes,
Well drained
Mature Height
300-350mm, 350-400mm, 400-450mm, 450-500mm, 500 -550mm, 550-600mm
300-350mm,
350-400mm,
400-450mm,
450-500mm,
500 -550mm,
550-600mm
Mature Width
300-350mm, 350-400mm, 400-450mm, 450-500mm, 500-550mm, 550-600mm
300-350mm,
350-400mm,
400-450mm,
450-500mm,
500-550mm,
550-600mm
Plant Shape
Rosette - Spiked
Rosette - Spiked
Rosette - Spiked Rosette - Spiked
Growth Rate
Slow
Slow
Maturity
8-10 yrs.
8-10 yrs.
Life Span
10-15yrs
10-15yrs
Leaf Properties
Leaf Colour (front)
Red-brown Margin, Yellow Margin, Blue-grey
Red-brown Margin,
Yellow Margin,
Blue-grey
Leaf Colour (back)
Blue-grey
Blue-grey
Leaf Shape(s)
Lanceolate
Lanceolate
Lanceolate Lanceolate
Leaf Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Smooth
Smooth
Waxy
Waxy
Glabrous Glabrous,
Smooth Smooth,
Waxy Waxy
Leaf Texture (back)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Smooth
Smooth
Waxy
Waxy
Glabrous Glabrous,
Smooth Smooth,
Waxy Waxy
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)
Dentate
Dentate
Entire
Entire
Dentate Dentate,
Entire Entire
Leaf Arrangement
Basal or Radial
Basal or Radial
Whorled
Whorled
Basal or Radial Basal or Radial,
Whorled Whorled
Leaf Cross Section(s)
Concave
Concave
Concave Concave
Apice(s)
Acute Narrowly
Acute Narrowly
Aristate
Aristate
Spinous
Spinous
Acute Narrowly Acute Narrowly,
Aristate Aristate,
Spinous Spinous
Base(s)
Truncate
Truncate
Truncate Truncate
Leaf Aroma
None
None
Inflorescence (Flower) Properties
Gender: Bisexual
Flowering Time (start)
Spring Mid
Spring Mid
Flowering Time (end)
Summer Late
Summer Late
Colour(s)
Yellow, Green-white
Yellow,
Green-white
Flower Shape(s)
Tubulate
Tubulate
Tubulate Tubulate
Pendulous
Pendulous
Flower Size(s) Length
50-60mm, 60-70mm
50-60mm,
60-70mm
Attachment
Pedicelate
Pedicelate
Arrangement(s)
Spike
Spike
Panicle
Panicle
Spike Spike,
Panicle Panicle
Terminal
Terminal
Arrangement Size(s)
2-2.5m, 2.5-3m
2-2.5m,
2.5-3m
Flowers per Arrangement
many
many
Pollinator(s)
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Bees,
Birds,
Butterflies
Stamen Colour(s)
Red
Red
Root Properties
Type
Fibrous
Fibrous
Tap
Tap
Fibrous Fibrous,
Tap Tap
Soil Properties
Type(s)
Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Stony, Premium Potting Mix
Loam,
Sandy-loam,
Sand,
Stony,
Premium Potting Mix
pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral
Condition(s)
Moist
Moist
Moist-Dry
Moist-Dry
Moist Moist,
Moist-Dry Moist-Dry
Poor , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained
Poor,
Shallow,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
Slight
Slight
Slight Slight
Waterlogging Class
None
None
Watering Requirements
WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering, WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering, WR6-soil may remain dry
WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering,
WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering,
WR6-soil may remain dry
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Moderate
Moderate
Bird Attraction
Nectar
Nectar
Butterfly Attraction
Moderate
Moderate
Frog Habitat
None
None
Coastal
1st Line
1st Line
Edible(s)
None
None
Drought Tolerance
Very Good
Very Good
Frost Tolerance
Light
Light
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Minimum Temperature Tolerance
0 - 2°C
0 - 2°C
Smog Tolerant
Good
Good
Landscape Use
Good
Good
Street Use
None
None
Commercial Use(s)
Horticulture - Amenity
Horticulture - Amenity
Pests/Diseases
Slugs, Snails
Slugs,
Snails
Special Purpose(s)
Garden-Architectural, Garden-Container, Foliage-interesting, Garden-Cacti, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Desert, Garden-Informal, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Rock, Garden-Tropical, Garden-Xeriscape, Irritating-Spines, Specimen, Sunny Dry, Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's
Garden-Architectural,
Garden-Container,
Foliage-interesting,
Garden-Cacti,
Garden-Coastal,
Garden-Courtyard,
Garden-Desert,
Garden-Informal,
Garden-Mediterranean,
Garden-Rock,
Garden-Tropical,
Garden-Xeriscape,
Irritating-Spines,
Specimen,
Sunny Dry,
Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares,
Tolerant-Deer,
Tolerant-Kangaroo's
Dormancy
Summer
Summer
Humidity Requirements
Low, Medium, High
Low,
Medium,
High
Vulnerability
LC - Least Concern
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
FR6, FR11
FR6,
FR11
Wind Tolerance
Strong Winds
Strong Winds
Propagation
Offsets, Tissue Culture

General Notes

An attracttive, architectural blue-grey leaf with a red-brown margin makes this solitary succulent stand out in the garden. A large red stemmed, yellow flower spike may appear after about 10 years when the plant will die back. Unlike many Agave's it does not produce 'pup's' as it dies back, nor does it send out suckers. Originating from a cross between Agave attenuata  and Agave ocahui by Kelly Griffin from Rancho Soledad Nursery in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Propagation Notes

Tissue Culture
Notes

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