Dark olive green to bluish green hybrid agave to about 3 feet wide with channeled leaves. Considered to be a natural hybrid between two Mexican species, A. nickelsiae (aka A. ferdinandi-regis, once a variety of A. victoriae-reginae) and A. asperrima (aka scabra). Inherits the rough skin of the latter (an inspiration for the name), the toothless margin of the former (marginal teeth are much reduced anyway), and the slow growth rate of both. Offsets via rhizomes. Enjoys extreme exposure and tolerates extended drought. Very similar to "Sharkskin Shoes", of the same presumed parentage. One common form found in cultivation was collected in Coahuila in 1971.

Tall inflorescences appear after 10-15 years (to about 15 feet tall, with flowers on the upper quarter). This hybrid produces viable seed and is apparently self fertile, but seedlings exhibit a fair amount of variation (as would be expected given the hybrid parentage).

Reply to this comment