The Useful Garden Succulent That Can Stand The Winter In Warm, Dry Climates

For many gardeners, winter spells a quiet time. Instead of tending to a variety of crops, winter is often used for planning spring gardens, refreshing tools, and crossing off chores from an ever-growing outdoor to-do list. However, if you live in a warmer climate where winters are mild, there's no reason for your garden to grow quiet. In fact, with this eye-catching succulent, you can create a year-round garden perfect for a climate that's as dry as it is warm.

Agave (Agave spp.) has a long history of being a beneficial plant. Most notably, this plant is used to make tequila. However, its leaves are also important for making essential survival tools, like cloth or even needles. As a plant native to North and South America, agave already has an advantage when it comes to surviving unfavorable conditions. However, they also thrive in warm, dry climates where other plants struggle. And because they're perennials in these areas, this includes the winter. Before adding agave to your garden lineup in hopes of a green winter, it's important to know that it is only perennial in a very limited range in the United States. An agave plant needs the right care to survive, winter or not.

The first thing you'll likely want to know is where you can grow agave year-round. Agave is hardy in zones 9 through 11– areas where the average minimum temperature in winter rarely goes below freezing. In the United States, this spans much of the southern region, especially the southwest, where agave is native. Some agave species may be hardy in colder regions, so it's important to research the right species for your yard if you want the best results.

While deciding whether or not a certain type of agave is a good choice for your garden, it's also helpful to consider other factors. For example, sunlight is essential for all plants, and for a succulent like agave, you want to make sure your yard can provide the right levels of light. Agave grows best in full sun conditions, though some types tolerate light shade here and there throughout the day. Ensure your agave plant receives at least six hours of bright, direct light daily. This is especially important if you want to grow this garden succulent as part of your winter garden, when there is not only less sunlight, but it's less intense too.

Aside from those needs, agave isn't too picky about care. In fact, it's considered easy to maintain, which makes it one of the best plants to grow for beginner gardeners. Just keep in mind that if you choose a species with softer leaves, such as foxtail agave (A. attenuata), you may need to take additional steps to protect your plants against frost in winter.