Agave Blue Flame
Agave ‘Blue Flame’ brings drama and a sense of movement with its leaves that appear to move in the wind like flames. And when fully grown, it captures everyone’s attention with its 5+ foot height and width.
But in contrast to its dramatic form, maintenance is very minimal! All it needs is full sun or partial shade in the desert for its blue tint, the occasional water, and fast-draining soil.
Botanical name: Agave attenuata x Agave shawii
Other names: Agave ‘David Verity’, Agave ‘Huntington Tooth’
Agave Blue Flame for sale at our nursery
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Agave Blue Flame Appearance
Both striking and beautiful, Agave Blue Flame gets its name from its blue-green leaves with slight twists that appear to move like flames.
It is a hybrid between Agave attenuata and Agave shawii.
The characteristics that Agave Blue Flame inherited from Agave attenuata are its smooth blue-green leaves, and beautiful, open rosette form.
You can see hints of Agave shawii in its serrated edges and pointy tips.
Overall size, when grown, is 4-6 feet in height and width.
Blue-green leaves turn green and then yellow-green with the amount of sun it receives. The margins and terminal spines are brown.
Vigorous clumping growth habit that produces many offsets over its lifetime.
The large flower stalk, about 10-20 feet tall with numerous small yellow flowers and offsets.
Agave blue Flame Landscaping Tips
Agave Blue Flame grows relatively slowly, but has a long lifespan, and produces a generous number of offsets.
Adds interesting color and shape, standing out even when planted among other agaves.
Adds a sense of elegance, and goes well in desert-themed, coastal, and Mediterranean-style gardens.
Plant against a wall and/or use lighting to enhance its flame-like silhouette.
Performs well in pots.
Best grown in full sun in many regions, but partial shade is best in desert areas such as the Coachella Valley to keep the deep blue-green color of leaves.
Close up look at Agave Blue Flame
Agave blue Flame Origin
The hybrid was created in LA, California. Its parents, Agave shawii is native to Southern California and Mexico’s Baja California, which include both desert and temperate coastal climate, and Agave attenuata is native to central Mexico, which has warm and humid summers.
Agave blue Flame Care
Soil: Loose, well-draining soil that is lightly fertile.
Temperature: Can withstand temperatures down to 25 degrees for a short period of time.
Water: Occasional, deep watering. Allow the soil to completely dry out between waterings. Either use a moisture meter or stick your finger through the soil to gauge the moisture level. It’s better to err on the side of underwatering than overwatering.
Sun: Full sun. Partial shade in the Palm Springs area
Agave blue Flame Problems
Pests: Agave Blue Flame has minimal pests which include scales.
To remove scales, pick them off or use horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. Horticultural oil will kill both crawlers and adults with direct contact. Insecticidal soap is better used to target only the crawlers.
Fungal diseases from root rot, dry rot, and harsh weather conditions.
Signs of overwatering: Drooping, squishy texture (especially at the bottom of the agave)
Signs of too little water: Shriveling, drying skin
Signs of too much sun: Burning, scarring, fading color
Signs of too little sun: Etiolation, discoloring
Agave blue Flame Propagation
The best way to propagate Agave Blue Flame is via its offsets. Remove offset with a hand or cut it off with a sharp blade. Allow for it to callous, and then plant.
FAQ
How much does Agave blue flame cost?
At our nursery, Agave Blue Flame costs $15 for a 1 gallon container, $45 for a 5 gallon container, $120 for a 15 gallon container, $225 for a 24" box, and $350 for a 30” box.
Prices are subject to change. Please contact us for the most up-to-date information on pricing. We may have larger sizes available. We provide installation services locally at a separate cost.
How big does Agave blue flame get?
Agave Blue Flame is a large agave that can grow to about 6 feet tall.
Agave blue flame vs agave blue glow differences?
People often get these two agaves confused because the names are so similar. However, they look very different. Agave Blue Flame is much bigger at 4-6 feet tall vs Agave Blue Glow’s 2 feet height. Agave Blue Flame has more curvature, and Agave Blue Glow has visible gold and red stripes that are unique to itself. Finally, Blue Flame is very generous with the offsets that it produces, whereas Blue Glow produces minimal offsets until it grows its flower stalk at the end of its life.
Due to the differences, they work well together to add great visual interest in the garden.
Summary
| SIZE (H X W) | 4-6 feet x 4-6 feet |
|---|---|
| FLOWER COLOR | Yellow |
| FLOWER SEASON | Infrequent |
| EXPOSURE | Full Sun |
| WATER | Low |
| GROWTH RATE | Moderate |
| HARDINESS | 25º F, USDA Zone 8 |
| PRUNING | None |