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Native Plant Database

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Agave parryi (Parry's agave)
Bransford, W.D. and Dolphia

Agave parryi Engelm.

Parry's agave, Century plant, Parry agave

Agavaceae (Century-Plant Family)

USDA Symbol: agpa4

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Like all agave plants, this plant is, for several years, a rosette of stiff, succulent, sword-like leaves. These 1 ft., spine-tipped leaves eventually subtend a tall flowering stalk supporting a cluster of yellow flowers at its tip. After the plant flowers, it dies.

Agaves are often called century plants and require many years to flower, but not a century. They provided southwestern Native American with food, beverages, fiber, soap, medicine, and lances. Today the liquors mescal, pulque, and tequila are made from the juice of the Mexican species.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AZ , NM , TX
Native Distribution: NM, AZ & n. Mex.
Native Habitat: High deserts
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Dry, rocky soils.
Conditions Comments: Not Available

Benefit

Use Food: The Indians ate the stems when the stems were young.
Use Other: It was important to the Indians for fiber.
Interesting Foliage: yes

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Agave parryi is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Orange Giant-Skipper
(Agathymus neumoegeni)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA 		Huachuca Giant-Skipper
(Agathymus evansi)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski

Search More Titles in Bibliography

From the Archive

Wildflower Newsletter 1988 VOL. 5, NO.5 - Penny Campaign Grows Oklahoma Wildflowers, Wildflower Center Collects Honors, Di...

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Agave parryi in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Agave parryi in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Agave parryi

Metadata

Record Modified: 2009-02-20
Research By: TWC Staff

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