Agave parryi var. huachucensis variegated

Kisshoten Nishiki is the name given to variegated plants of Agave parryi var. huachucensis (Kisshoten), also sold as 'Parryi Variegata'. Kisshoten itself is a variety of A. parryi whose range reaches north to the Huachuca Mountains of southern Arizona; it forms a tight, rounded rosette of short, broad grey leaves with prominent brown tip spines and suckers freely. Kisshoten Nishiki is simply the variegated form, and no source identifies a particular raiser or named clone. Plants on sale show marginal, central and other patterns, and sellers often grade them by the quality of the variegation. Because it is treated as a different plant from green Kisshoten, check the variegation in photos of the actual plant before buying. Variegated agaves in general have less chlorophyll in the variegated tissue, grow more slowly and scorch more easily in strong sun. Assume it is less cold-hardy than green plants and keep it out of hard frost. In Japan it is sold by specialist nurseries, online shops and auctions.

The Agave parryi var. huachucensis variegated grows to Little published data (green Kisshoten rosettes are about 45 cm tall and 60 cm wide).

Light feeder; a little slow-release fertiliser in the growing season is enough