From Arizona, New Mexico and northern Mexico, Agave parryi var. patonii is a medium sized Agave to one and a half to two feet across feet across with broad spade shaped leaves. Because of it's compact size it is a favorite landscape and garden plant and cold tolerant down to zero degrees. Some cultivars offset over time. Even for it's small size, the flower stalk which appears toward the end of the plants life, can be as much as fifteen to twenty feet tall.
     Agave parryi "Cream Spike" is a dwarf variegated form with beautiful markings. It is sometimes sold under the name Agave parryi variegata as the one below was. Below is a nice small one I got from Tohono Chul Park. It was only three inches across. Above is what it looks like today, 6 inches across and probably ready to pup soon. One of the pictures below was taken by Geoff Stein, a fellow member of the Davesgarden.com gardening forums. It are used with his permission. Thanks Geoff :-) Also check out some of Geoffs other pictures in the Photo Galleries/Friends section.

My little variegated one three years ago

A beautiful show plant by Geoff