The genus Agave comprises around 200 species native to the deserts of Mexico and the southwestern United States, where they have evolved into some of the most architecturally dramatic plants in cultivation. The name comes from ancient Greek meaning illustrious or noble, which suits them: a mature agave in a rock garden or xeriscape planting commands attention. They grow as a tight rosette of thick fleshy leaves edged with sharp teeth and tipped with a formidable spine, ranging in size from compact varieties under 2 feet wide to architectural specimens reaching 10 feet tall and 15 feet across.

The famous bloom is a once-in-a-lifetime event: after anywhere from five to sixty years, a central stalk rises from the rosette and produces clusters of tubular yellow flowers that open at night and attract bats as their primary pollinators. Most species die after setting seed, but they leave behind offsets and sometimes aerial plantlets on the spent flower stalk. Full sun and sharply drained sandy soil are non-negotiable — overwatering or poor drainage invites root rot and agave snout weevil, the two most serious threats. Zones 9 to 11 outdoors; an excellent container subject in colder climates.