Agave parrasana Berger

Agave

Cabbage head agave is found only in Coahulio, Mexico, and it is surprisingly cold tolerant (as low as 10-15°F), because in its native area it grows between elevations of 4500–8000′ (1.4–2.4 km).

Plants: The small, symmetrical blue-gray balls are 2½–3′ (76–91 cm) in diameter.

Leaves: Short, wide, nearly round, with spines along the edges. The leaves are textured with patterns and color variations that look like impressions from nearby leaves. It looks similar to Agave parryi, another cold-hardy species that resembles a cabbage. Wikipedia explains that Agave parryi has darker points on each leaf tip (dark tan, brown, or black), and that the indentations of previous leaves show on the back of each leaf.

Flowers: Not to be outdone by its much larger relatives, this agave produces a flower spike 9½–13′ (3–4 m) high, split into 12-15 branches at the top; the open flowers are yellow, tinged with red or purple. The tall stalk, a little like a giant sprig of asparagus, is similar to the century plant, but the century plant has long sharp-edged leaves.

Fruits: Produces seeds and rarely offsets, but I couldn’t find details.

Habitats: Grassy slopes, in chaparral shrub and pine-oak forests on limestone, at elevations of 4429–7874′ (1.4–2.4 km).

Online References:

References:

Older scientific or horticultural names

Agave parrasana description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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