Mail Order Catalog Fall 2010 - Cistus Nursery

Agave murpheyi murphey's agave
Sweet little agave, from mid elevation deserts of central Arizona into Sonora, often found associated with Native
American sites. To 18", or 2 feet at most, with narrow, upright leaves, slightly recurved and steel to powder blue.
Offsetting fairly quickly. The eventual flowers also produce tiny bulbils -- as the song goes -- which might
explain its being spread by people in the early days. Because of its drier habitats we keep ours in pots with very
well drained soil, or only in the most exposed areas of our garden and growing in true grit. Full sun. Again, dry
conditions with an occasional splash of summer water. Cold hardy into upper USDA zone 7 if dry.
$16.00
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Agavaceae
Agave murpheyi ‘Variegata’
Another sweet little agave, from mid elevation deserts of central Arizona into Sonora, Mexico. Up to 18" to 2 ft
tall with narrow, upright leaves, wavy with creamy yellow margins, the centers steel to powder blue. Offsets
quickly. Best planted in truly gritty soil in pots or exposed garden areas with full sun. Provide good drainage and
dry conditions with a bit of summer water. Frost hardy in upper USDA zone 7 if dry in winter.
$17.00
Agavaceae
Agave neomexicana trailer park mescal
A tough-as-nails species, closely related to A. parryi but with narrower, deep blue leaves held upright and out and
adorned with gray marginal spines and long, terminal brownish red spines. Slow growing to an eventual 1-2 ft
tall x 2-3 ft wide, offsetting to form colonies. After 15 years or so, produces yellow flowers on a 12 ft stalk! Full
sun and lean, well-drained soil with little, if any, summer water. This native of southeastern New Mexico is one of
the hardiest species; to -20F, USDA zone 5, with good drainage.
$14.00
Agavaceae
Agave ornithobroma maguey pajarito
Wonderful, short-trunk forming species from subtropical western Mexico, these collections from Sinaloa at
under 500 ft elevation -- did we say warm? Closely related to A. geminiflora, the 18" rosettes, with extremely
narrow, flexible leaves of dark green, are beautifully framed by a gazillion curly white filifers or hairs. Quite
happy with a fair amount of moisture; winter drought decreases chance of problems. We have had this in our
garden, hardy for the last few years with luck. Really, it should be protected below the mid 20ºs F so best for
mildest parts of the world or as fabulously small-scale container plants. USDA zone 9/10. Full sun to dappled
shade in a bright window, or your nearest lava outcrop.
$16.00
Agavaceae
Agave ovatifolia 'Frosty Blue'
A Cistus introduction and new. This mega-century plant, first discovered by Lynn Lowrey in northeastern
Mexico some 30 years ago and just named recently by agaveist Greg Starr, might be the largest of the cold hardy
agaves, reaching eventually to 6-8 ft with beautifully formed, blue leaves. Our selection, made from a more recent
batch, has a distinct, pale aquamarine hue with the classic shape of cupped, upright, and slightly outward bending
leaves. The species has taken the cold and wet of Dallas TX, for instance, so upper USDA zone 7 for cold
hardiness; possibly colder in gritty or dry soil. Fabo container plant.
$22.00
Agavaceae
Spring 2010 Mail Order Catalog (* = new to mail order list)