Small, endangered Mexican agave with a grey-blue rosette, used to make mezcal

The species is hardy down to about -10 degrees Celsius if kept dry, so it's worth trying outdoors in milder parts of the country, but it needs protection from wet winter conditions. Agave potatorum can happily live its entire life in a pot, making it a perfect addition to a collection, even indoors.

It is used in the production of mezcal, a distilled alcoholic beverage, and due to extensive production, the plant is considered endangered, classified as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2019). Mature plants are being harvested from the wild on an increasingly large scale, and many sub-populations have already been eradicated.

This small and very attractive agave forms a neat rosette of pointed grey-blue leaves up to 30 centimeters long, edged with dark brown spines. The species originates from the semi-deserts of Mexico's southern Puebla, west-central Veracruz, and central Oaxaca states.

When the agave flowers, its flower stalk can reach a height of 6 meters. This is because it is pollinated by birds, which have almost no sense of smell but can see the beautiful flowers from a distance.

Botanical Description

The species epithet 'potatorum' means "to drink" in Latin and refers to the beverage produced from the plant. To make mezcal, the leaves are cut at the base to access the heart of the plant. This plant part is baked (often in an earth oven), pressed, and fermented before the plant sap is distilled.

Care

Agave potatorum needs well-drained succulent soil. Place the potted plant in a south-facing spot with plenty of sun. Water by placing the entire pot in a container of water and allowing the soil to become completely saturated. Water approximately once a month or when the soil feels completely dry. As described above, you can try growing it outdoors in zone 1. In England, some enthusiasts have succeeded, but the climate there is somewhat milder. It is important to keep moisture away, which means very permeable soil and rain protection. You can also plant the agave on top of a slope, which allows excess water to drain away. Buy Tequila Agave online!