Agave neomexicana
Light: Full sun to light shade; afternoon shade is beneficial in Phoenix, especially near heat-reflecting walls or pavement.
Water: Low water once established. Water deeply but infrequently, allowing soil to dry thoroughly between waterings. Occasional supplemental summer irrigation helps during prolonged Phoenix heat; keep nearly dry in winter.
Soil: Very well-drained, gravelly or sandy soil. Plant on a raised mound if drainage is poor, and keep the crown above surrounding soil.
Mature size: Typically 1–2 feet tall and 2–3 feet wide per rosette; offsetting colonies become wider.
Bloom: Blooms once at maturity, usually after several decades. The flowering rosette dies afterward, but established offsets can continue growing.
Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen.
Growth rate: Slow.