Agave desmettiana 'Joe Hoak'

'Joe Hoak' is a centre-striped agave named after Joe Hoak of Hoak's Nursery in Miami, Florida. A US grower describes leaves about 60 cm long that rise and then curve gracefully outward, striated pale grey-green and cream, with a strong dark green margin on the lower half. The small, well-spaced marginal teeth and the tip spine are reddish brown, and plants reach about 60 cm tall and 90 cm wide. Its origin is unclear: it is sometimes labelled Agave meridensis variegata, but the nursery lists it under A. desmettiana because the leaf curve suggests a hybrid or sport of that species, and the Japanese alternative name 'Meridensis Nishiki' appears to come from that label. The similar 'Venezuela' (desmettiana 'Variegata') has yellow on the margins, whereas 'Joe Hoak' has its cream in the centre and green edges. A Japanese succulent encyclopedia also notes that its leaves are wider and its teeth more pronounced than in desmettiana. Its cold hardiness has not been established, and in Japan it is offered only occasionally by specialist nurseries.

The Agave desmettiana 'Joe Hoak' grows to About 60 cm tall and 90 cm wide (leaves about 60 cm long).

Grows faster with some fertiliser in the growing season; heavy feeding is unnecessary