One century plant that had long frustrated us was the exquisite Agave parryi ssp. truncata. This southern form of the species is hugely popular in California and Arizona, where temperatures are milder, but it never would overwinter for us here in Zone 7b/8a. In 2010 we planted a form from Mountain States Nursery in Arizona, shared by plantsman Hans Hansen. In the 16 years since, it’s thrived in our garden, as you can see below, so far, enduring a winter cold of 7 degrees F. Agave parryi ssp. truncata ‘Hardy Boyz’ is a slowly offsetting clone, but one that will eventually form a solid mat of 18″ tall x 18″ wide rosettes, like the incredible specimens you see when visiting gardens in the lower desert Southwest. It’s taken us 16 years to have enough to finally share, this year. Hardiness is Zone 7b-9b, at least.
