Artichoke Agave – The dense rosette and compact form of this agave look very similar to an overgrown blue artichoke, hence its name. Unlike an artichoke, this agave has striking reddish black teeth and tips that will definitely bite at you if you come too close! Artichoke Agave is slow growing, taking up to 10 years to reach its mature size of 2 feet tall by 3 feet wide, but it is well worth it to have such a pleasantly compact and spherical agave in your yard. Plant this agave in full sun and keep the roots dry. It natively grows in the Sonoran Desert, so make sure it is planted in well-draining rocky soil.