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I've been contemplating on venturing outside the realm of container gardening and planting some nice specimens in the yard. I'm in zone 6b-5b (not really sure which one, but in those zones somewhere), and yes it gets below freezing here. I'm pretty sure the guy down the block has a yucca, and it seems to not die in this zone ( I'm somewhat fascinated by this). So I'm guessing I could at least plant a Yucca or two? Another plant, that I'd like to plant is the Agave Parryi. I've been told that this is the most cold hardy of all Agaves. Is this true, and would it survive the brutal winters that I have here (would other Agave species survive in my zone)? If you can't tell, I like Agaves. Also, one last thing. Could anyone suggest other cool succulents/cacti that would make it in my zone? I like all cool succulents and cacti also. Is there a website that tells the hardiness of most succulents and Cacti? Awesome, thanks guys. The best

I found it. Agave Parryi and some other Agaves are cold hardy down to zone 5! That means I can get an Agave Parryi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!yeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!And other succulents and Cacti that are cold hardy down to zone 5!! Yeeeaaaaa Awesome.......whoooo. I'll keep you guys posted as to what I get. Can anyone suggest a good place to buy from?

looks like I'm gonna need some gravel for good drainage though. The soil here is a bit clay-like. The ground will have to be thoroughly prepared if I wish to have good success. Any ideas on how far down I'll have to prepare the ground, and how to prepare it (never done this before)? Can I just throw some gravel down? Sorry for so many questions

Check it out. Here's one covered in snow:

[img]https://i1110.photobucket.com/albums/h447/baileysup/AG003Agave_parryi_Flagstaff_Form_in_snow.jpg[/img]

I'm in Zone 6b. This old thread lists the plants in my "Desert Rock Garden", including yucca and Eastern Prickly Pear cactus which are native plants.
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=79896#79896
-- and if you follow the link in it, it'll take you to a photo when it was new.

I don't remember if I described how I constructed the garden over my clay subsoil anywhere. I'll look around. If I didn't I'll have to try to remember.

I'm in zone 6a with very clay soil. Yucca is very common here, hardy and easy to grow and doesn't seem to mind our soil.

I'm not familiar with the agave parryi, but it is rated cold hardy to zone 5a, so should work for you.

Here's websites on cold hardy cactus and succulents:

https://coldhardycactus.com/Pages/OtherLands.htm

https://www.getnet.net/~richarde/cactusstore/Cold%20Hardy%20Cacti.htm

https://www.cactuscollection.com/info/cold.html


https://www.gardenality.com/Articles/616/Plants/Cactus-and-Succulents/Cold-Hardy-Cactus-for-North-America/default.html


The last one has a very extensive listing

That's exactly what I was looking for and more. Thank you guys so much

Ok, so when I get my Agave and/or maybe Yucca, How old or big should it be before it gets transplanted outside? Does it just need a good established root system? I ask this because I've found plants that are small (around 3") for purchase, but don't know if I would have to let it grow a bit older before I plant it outside. The other option would be to locate a larger more mature plant that would get planted directly outside. Would I be able to plant an Agave as small as 3" outside and expect it to make it through the winter? The one nursery says that their one type of Agave Parryi (pale variety) is used to being cold and snowed on (they have another bright colored blue variety), so in that case, it would be good to go? Both the pale colored and bright blue colored varieties are rated down to the same 5a hardiness zone. I guess buying a plant that is used to a cold climate would help, but IS IT REQUIRED? I will try to get a phone number for the owner of the nursery to see what he has to say about the plants he has. If anyone has some info about this, it would be appreciated.

I don't know about the agave -- though you've piqued my curiosity -- but unless you are looking for a special kind (I wanted a variegated one, for instance, but they are apparently less hardy) the more common yucca grows pups and multiplies very readiy, so if you can find someone who has one, they probably would have extras that they wouldn't mind getting rid of... Craigslist or Freecycle, maybe?

Mine came from my own backyard where we originally planted it had become shady due to maturing trees and the yucca had become elongated and unhealthy looking. Even then, there were 4-5 plants clustered there and I couldn't "rescue" the entire group. I still have two plants languishing back there.