I am totally Agave obsessed this summer. It all started when I designed a Woolly Pocket living wall that used Agaves as focal points. Planted among hanging succulents like Trailing Jade and Senecio Fishhook, the Agaves took on a bold flower like form that could be seen from far away. They were so striking that I started to develop a new appreciation for the sculptural and graphic quality of the agaves.

Commonly called ‘Century Plants’, Agaves are large succulents that are related to Aloe plants. They are Monocots which means that each stem (or plant) flowers once and then dies. It may take up to 10 years for an Agave to flower, but in the meanwhile they propogate ‘pups’, small Agaves that grow at their base.

Native to Mexico and parts of the Southwest, they also grow in parts of South America. Agaves are tough and relatively easy to grow in USDA zones 8-10 (Los Angeles is in zone 10).

With Agaves on my mind I have started snapping photos of them in my neighbohood – check out the variety of colors and textures!

Agaves on a parkway on Silverlake Blvd – you need a wide parkway (6′ or more) to grow Agaves

Baby Agaves growing in my test garden

On Montana Street across from my old apartment

 Octopus Agaves at the Los Angeles Arboretum

Variegated Agave ‘Americana’ on Carroll Street in Echo Park. I’m going to plant a few of these in my yard this fall.