Agave nizandensis

Description

Agave nizandensis is a small member of the Agave genus. Found in a corner of Oaxaca, Mexico. This pint-sized powerhouse forms a lush basal rosette up to 60 cm (2 feet) across, with sleek, dark green leaves—each about 30 cm long and just 2.5 cm wide—sporting a ghostly pale stripe down the middle and ending in cheeky blunt red spines. The edges? Lightly jagged, like nature’s own decorative trim. Come bloom time, it sends up a slender spike (0.6–1 m tall) crowned with clusters of soft yellowish-green flowers. As one of the smallest members of the mighty Asparagaceae family, this elusive beauty proves that great things really do come in compact, spiky packages. The leaves tend to go a purple-ish maroon when sun or water stressed and gives it a unique look.