Agave gypsophila. Gentry 

🌱 Morphology

   Slow-growing agave that forms an open rosette with a wavy, slightly curly appearance, which can reach approximately 50–100 cm in height and diameter. Its leaves are long, flexible, and arched, in grayish-blue or turquoise green, with a characteristic marginal band ivory white or cream. The edges have small, relatively blunt teeth, and the terminal spine is short and dark. The combination of wavy leaves and a light-colored margin gives this cultivar a very distinctive appearance compared to most agaves. It can produce offsets, although its growth is slow. 

🌍 Distribution, habitat, and family

The wild species is endemic to southwestern Mexico, mainly Colima, Guerrero, and Jalisco. It grows in rocky ravines and lowland tropical deciduous forests on gypsum and limestone outcrops, at altitudes of approximately 370 to 960 m. Its specific epithet, gypsophila, means precisely “gypsum-loving.” The ‘Ivory Curls’ cultivar is a variegated horticultural selection obtained in Australia, attributed to nurseryman Stan Walkley, and is not a form found naturally in its habitat. The species is considered critically endangered. 

Order Asparagales · Family Asparagaceae · Subfamily Agavoideae · Tribe Agaveae.

❄️ Temperature · USDA Zone 9b

It tolerates approximate minimum temperatures of −3 °C for short periods, provided the substrate is dry. It is sensitive to frost, which can damage the leaves and alter its ornamental appearance. It is recommended to protect it from intense cold and, especially, from the combination of low temperatures and humidity.

☀️ Lighting

It needs abundant light to maintain its compact form and highlight the ivory variegation of the margins. A sunny or bright partial-shade position is recommended. In very warm climates, it is advisable to avoid the most intense midday sun if it causes scorching. Recommended DLI: 20–30 mol·m⁻²·day⁻¹.

💧 Growth cycle and watering

Winter dormancy. Growth occurs mainly in spring and summer. During the warm months, it is recommended to water thoroughly and allow the substrate to dry out before watering again. Unlike other agaves from desert environments, A. gypsophila comes from seasonally dry tropical areas and benefits from some regularity in watering during active growth, although it does not tolerate waterlogging. In winter, watering should be reduced and the plant kept almost dry when temperatures drop. 

🌸 Flowering

It is a monocarpic species: the rosette dies after flowering. It produces a branched inflorescence approximately 2–3 m tall, with yellow flowers clustered in small umbels. In its natural habitat, it flowers mainly between February and June. The plant can produce offsets, which allow the cultivar to be maintained through vegetative propagation.

🌿 Nutrition

During the active growth period, Desert CHOICE® Succulents is recommended, providing a balanced supply of potassium and bioavailable calcium. Potassium helps regulate water and improves stress resistance, while calcium contributes to the firmness and consistency of the tissues.

🪴 Pot

Large specimen in a 60 cm Tarrina pot.

This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot with a substrate enriched with mycorrhizal fungi and biofungicides.