Murphy's Agave
Agave murpheyi, Agave Family ( Agaveae or Agavaceae ), Murphy's Agave. Also called: Hohokam Agave.
A beautiful, small to medium Agave from Central Arizona and Sonora Mexico which has very wide, heavily cross-banded, blue and purplish leaves. It is highly tolerant of drought conditions and full sun.
It has greenish yellow to yellow flowers, with reddish petal margins, on a 14 feet tall panicle in early winter and spring. The plant produces an abundance of bulbils on the flower stem.
Tolerates poor soil and drought, but requires excellent drainage.
They were cultivated by the ancient Hohokam People in the Phoenix area.
Height: 2 to 4 feet feet tall. It also spreads about 2 to 4 feet.
Flowers: A short stalk emerges from the center of the plant, it becomes 10 to 14 feet tall. Then greenish - yellow flowers with reddish petal margins emerge from the stalk on about 12 side branches. The flower stalk signals the end of the plant's life cycle.
Blooming Time: Phoenix Arizona, Mid February - April.
Leaves: The leaves form a basal rosette, they are 20 to 32 inches long and 2 1/2 to 8 inches wide, ranging in color from light glaucous green to yellowish - green, often with light cross - lined patterns. The leaf margins are undulate with small teeth.
Found: Native Central Arizona and Mexico (Sonora).
Elevation: 1,500 to 3,000 Feet. In Arizona.
Habitat: It grows well in sand, sandy loam, clay and other heavy soils. It needs very good drainage and aeration. It is remarkably tolerant of alkali. Cold Hardy.
Miscellaneous: Maintenance: Low. Photos Taken; Arizona - Sonora Desert Museum, September 29, 2006.
