Agave chiapensis aka Chamula Agave

Agave chiapensis belongs to the asparagus family. It is a succulent that stays green all year. It comes from Oaxaca and Chiapas in Mexico, and Guatemala. It grows in places with a dry season. Wild plants root among rocks and on limestone cliffs. They also grow in pine-oak woods at higher sites. Building and urban growth cause it to lose habitat. Useful Tropical Plants gives its 2018 IUCN status as Vulnerable.

The plant forms a broad rosette, with little stem showing. Reports put leaf height around 1.6–2.6 feet [0.5–0.8 metres]. Sources give rosette widths of 3.3–4.9 feet [1–1.5 metres]. Plants in pots stay smaller than those grown outdoors. A rosette may grow alone or form a clump. Offsets, or new shoots, grow around the base. These shoots become new plants. Thick, broad leaves give it an open, balanced shape. The leaves feel smooth and range from bright green to grey-green. They curve upward, with slight waves along their edges. Dark teeth line each edge. A strong spine tips each leaf.

Most flowers come in spring and summer, though timing varies. LLIFLE gives stalk heights of 3.3–6.6 feet [1–2 metres]. Useful Tropical Plants reports stalks reaching 11.5 feet [3.5 metres]. Flowers grow straight from the stalk, not from branched tips. Deep purple or red-purple buds open to pale yellow tepals. These are the outer flower parts. Purple stamens and pistils stand out against the paler parts. These flower organs make pollen and bear seeds. Blooms open from the stalk's base toward its tip. This can take about two months. Sources differ on the fate of the rosette that flowers. One says it dies. LLIFLE describes new heads that form between the leaves.

Grow this agave in sun or light shade with afternoon shelter. It needs sand or gravel in soil that drains well. Pots need drain holes and a loose mix with air spaces. Good feeding and summer water can bring fast growth. Let the soil dry fully before you water again. In winter, give just enough water to keep leaves from shrivelling. Plants can bear dry spells and a light freeze at times. Their place of origin may affect how much cold they bear. LLIFLE advises a cool, frost-free place for winter.

Gardeners grow this plant for its looks, including in pots. Broad green leaves and a clump form shape its look. Growers can raise new plants from seed. Local people gather wild flowers for food and eat them cooked. Sharp leaf teeth and tip spines pose a risk when handling it. The supplied sources do not show whether this species has toxic chemicals.