Common name: Century Plant, Maguey
Botanical name: Agave americana

This plant is fast growing to about 6'-10' tall and 8'-13' wide. Wide gray leaves have stiff terminal spines and recurved teeth on margins. It prefers full sun and well-drained situations. After blooming, which could take several years, it will die but will send up new pups from around the base. Some people are allergic to the sap. Removal is difficult if unwanted.

Common name: Parry's Agave, Orange Century Plan
Botanical name: Agave parryi v. huachucensis

This slow growing succulent reaches 2' tall and wide. It is clump forming with a dense rosette made of short gray leaves with dark thorns on the margins. This is the largest of the subspecies of parryi with leaves 2' long. It is subject to Agave weevils. It blooms once in its lifetime, sending up a tall flowering yellow spike. This signals the death of the plant but typically, there are pups surrounding the plant. It may take 30 years for this plant to bloom.