It's not so much the individual plant that gets that large (although they almost do) it's when they start pupping that they get that large (wide). No, putting it in a pot will not restrict its growth as much as you'd like - it will just bust out of the pot.

hmmm. would you say that removing the pups as they pop out would keep the mother plant manageable?

My experience with growing this type of mega agave is they're fine in a pot for a little bit, but once they start outgrowing the pot like cactusmcharris says they either bust out or start getting unhappy and begin to take a turn for the worse. Where I live almost everybody has at least one agave in their yard. This type of agave is meant to get man eating size:). It will do ok for awhile in a pot, but then start looking sad. If I were you I would find a spot in your yard he can thrive and enjoy. Lastly yes I would remove pups as they pop out to keep the plant from going crazy. I've noticed that removing the pups also keep the mother plant beautiful because all the energy is going to one plant. Goodluck:)

Thank you both! Per your advice I will go ahead and plant her and just trim off pups as necessary. The neighbors will be happy to receive them. :)

Here it is weedy. A. parryii truncata is a good size, 2-3', easy to find, offsets but not ridiculously, and a beautiful shade of silvery blue. A lot less work than A. americana.

hoovb, I love parryii agave! Definitely had planned to buy some for the foreground, but wanted to make good use of these gifted AAs.

one more question...the place I've sited is actually under a tree, part shade. is this a death sentence for AA?

They are fine in part shade. I would be more concerned for the tree.

I have some beautiful A. americanas, but there are definitely better species out there that aren't as much work (A. franzosinii, A. weberi, and A. 'Sawtooth' are big Agave that don't pup as much). You have to keep up on the pups. The big clumps aren't very attractive.

Jenna, Agaves are like the Opuntias of the succulent world - they will, if you PIG (plant in ground) them, grow just about anywhere. hoov gives good advice, as does Nil. IMO, his suggestions for alternatives to A. a. are something to consider - they are much more beautiful. But it's very cool that you give the pups away - one of the truisms of a generous gardener!

thanks again, all. it's a slow build to transition into a xeriscape yard, so I do want to utilize any gifted plant that comes my way. our yard is a huge upslope so plenty of space for a filler like AA as well as room to showcase some nicer looking and easier-to-manage agaves, too. if you have more suggestions for low-maintenance-drought-tolerant-almost-impossible-to-kill cacti/succulents, lay 'em on me!

Where do you live? That will help us in our responses.

cactusmcharris, I live in Oakland, California - USDA hardiness zone 9b. We're going on our 5th year of severe drought and my backyard in particular has microclimates even within - half the area gets the unrelenting, beating sun for 10+ hours a day (which I'm aiming to fill with cacti and aloes/agaves only) and the other half sits under a shaded tree (still hot and dry, but still shaded). thanks :)

OMG - not Agaves but Aloes, particularly since you're also in the backyard of the Institute for Aloe Studies, a fine group led by a generous prince of a man. I I could get you an introduction in person if you like - I think I have that much goodwill built up with him (full disclosure - Oakland's also my birthplace, almost some 3-score years ago).

Aloe, I Love You

OTOH, many Agaves will also grow well for you too, but not as many, IMO, as there are Aloes which would do splendidly for you.

Jenna happy to see another person from the Bay Area on this forum:). Blue Glow Agave is a nice one. Doesn't pup or get huge.

Aloes, yes, because with Aloes you get lots of hummingbirds. striata, aculeata, marlothii, reitzii, dhufarhensis, plicatilis (now in Kumara), etc, etc.

cactusmcharris - wha?! how lucky for me! I'd love an intro, as I checked out the link and am so stoked for the variety of aloes I can get from IAS. I've found aloes hard to find at the local nurseries and not much easier online. Thank you! Also, your birthplace is the best. It gets such a bad rap being the homely step-sister of San Francisco, but I love it here. And the weather is definitely much better ;)

Kara - yay Bay :) whereabouts are you exactly? We have like a million microclimates here, I'm always amazed at what will or won't grow based on where in the Bay you live. As for Blue Glow Agave - I am actually head over in love with that plant, and had planned to line my front walkway with rows them as my next project! So, excellent suggestion!

hoovb - thank you! you guys have pretty much convinced me to go the mostly aloe route. I hadn't thought about the flowers and the hummingbirds, all just a bonus.

So the IAS greenhouse is literally right down the hill from my house. How cool is that!

Jenna, send me your contact information via private message (clicking on my handle will allow that) and I'll forward it to him). Oh boy, your own Aloe forest in your backyard!

Jenna I live in Martinez;). Looks like we're finally gonna get some much needed rain pretty soon;).

Agave americana is more of a water hog than other agaves. I even does some dense soil. Even Agave proto-americana is more xeric. I can not water at all after establishing because I live off of rainwater and my soil is really porous calcarious nasty soil, mostly marl. I kill Agave americana. One staid a bonsai for 5 years and then died. Agave striata does better for me.

cactusmcharris - so lame, but I can't figure out how to PM you! please PM instead :)

kara - right? It took me a minute to remember how to turn my windshield wipers on, haha. I have a really good friend in Martinez who I just gave a bunch of succulent cuttings to. perfect weather over there!

wanton - wow, I would love to be able to just live off rainwater.

Although I don't have any data about the relative water needs of a. americana vs other agaves I think it's a gross distortion to call it a water hog. I have several that get zero supplemental water in an interior valley of southern CA. They get winter rain, about 12" from Oct/Nov to about Apr/May, and then zero rain for the rest of the year with temperatures in the mid to high 90s most of that time, getting up to as high as 115 on a few extreme days. My soil is almost pure sand. The americanas are thriving and never show any signs of wilting, let alone dying. One 10" pup I transplanted has grown into a sturdy 4' tall plant in 3 years. Your bad experience with americana may be more due to your soil than to the water they need to thrive.