Agave Durangensis

Description: Agave durangensis is one of the primary spirit agaves grown in Durango, Mexico. Spirits made from this agave often have sweet, mineral, and floral overtones of depth and intensity. Wide, gray-green, concave leaves show prominent, black needles. These agaves are very tough, maybe our toughest, and thrive with little water but are slow growing. Dry farming potential once established. They are also cold and wet tolerant in winter. Originally sourced from Southern California, these plants have taken better to Northern California conditions than many other of our SoCal-sourced plants. Estimated Size: 5-8ft height and 4-6.5ft width. Estimated Time to Maturity: 8-15 years. Propagation: Pups, seed, bulbils. Uses: Spirits, pulque, landscaping. Care: Partial shade, high drought tolerance, hardy to around 20-25°F, maybe lower. Suggest planting 11-12ft centers and 6ft down the row. Note: There is a great deal of scientific and academic literature, as well as practical experience from Mexico, regarding the lifespan of various agave species. In our experience, however, this information is not always correct for agaves grown in California--and in Northern California in particular, where most species have a limited track record of production. Our maturity estimates represent our best guesses based on our review of available information and the speed at which agaves are growing for us. Your experience may vary!