Agave stricta nana "Blue form"  (young specimen)
 

Description: It is a very small selected plant that forms a compact spherical rosette, with many stiff, very narrow, linear leaves. Will form offshoots to create a colony of rosettes.
Rosettes: Individual rosettes with hundreds of thin leaves that grow very slowly and do not overreach 20 to 30 cm inf height and width.
Leaves: Narrow, needle-like, evergreen, light blue-green that turn red tints in sun or strong light, roundish in cross-section , toothless on the margin, about 10-20 cm long; thick at the base then narrowing to end in a very sharp spine.

Scientific name:  Agave stricta  nana "blue form"

Origin:  Agave stricta is native to the Tehuacan Valley of southern Puebla and northern Oaxaca in Mexico. This selected cultivar is probably of garden origin (Nursery produced cultivar)

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Agave stricta nana blue form (was labeled this way) but may be A. stricta nana 'rubra' (or whatever the name is).  The name is so confusing and the plants on trade and in collections have so many names that it is almost impossible to say what exactly this plant is.  But it is surely beautiful and charming.

Cultivation: A. stricta is a versatile and very hardy plant that can be grown in half-shade to full-sun.  It can take moderate to severe freezes, and is extremely drought tolerant. In winter this plant can be watered once every 1-2 months. There is no need to mist the leaves.  Agave stricta is theoretically hardy to -4° C, particularly when dry.   But  it is best to avoid severe freezing temperatures. Heat Tolerance: Excellent

Propagation: Relatively easy to propagate by suckers (if available).   Remove the basal suckers  in spring or summer ,and let the cuttings dry for a few days before inserting in compost.

Photo of conspecific taxa, varieties, forms and cultivars of Agave stricta.

• Agave stricta
• Agave stricta nana "blue form"
• Agave stricta forma rubra