Cameron Blue Butterfly Agave
An agave we’ve lusted after for years and finally were able to track down! The deeply scalloped leaf edges give this agave the most exquisite texture. Combine that with the deep blue foliage and you have yourself an agave really worth swooning over. The only downside to this one is that it’s not quite fully hardy here. Though we’ve heard reports of it being hardy to zone 8, most Agave potatorum selections are only hardy down to about 25F. We’ll plant them outside to see, but planting in a container and moving under cover when hard frost threatens, and keeping dry in winter is likely the safest bet in Zone 8 and below.
Plant in extremely well draining soil in the brightest conditions if planting in ground. Watering in the summertime will lead to faster growth and a large specimen. Otherwise it makes a fantastic container plant and can be brought indoors when very cold weather is in the forecast.
Latin Name: Agave potatorum
Site and Soil: Full sun and very well-drained soil. Very drought tolerant once established and will need little to no supplemental watering during the summer season, though a bit of summer water speeds growth.
Hardiness: Hardy to approx. 25º F, possibly lower with great drainage.
Color: Deep blue
Size at Maturity: 12 inches in height by 18 inches wide
Bloom Time: early spring through summer every 20-40 years or so
Pests & Diseases: Not bothered by pests or diseases.
USDA Zone: 9a