This is a small tight-growing agave to 12 inches tall by 18 inches wide with short gray leaves and red spines. This selection is thought to be a Japanese cultivar of Agave potatorum and it and the variegated form called 'Kichiokan Marginata' or 'Kissho Kan' are very slow growing and highly sought after. These guys grow in full sun to light shade in hot climates. Mature plants have a hemispherical shape with up curving leaves with yellow to pale green variegation along the margins and red spines. Little irrigation is required in coastal gardens, but it is best to provide some supplemental irrigation in hotter inland gardens. It is cold hardy to at least 25 degrees. There has also been considerable debate by succulent enthusiasts and nurserymen over the correct translation and spelling of the cultivar name. , others tell us that the variegated form is actually 'Kissho Kan', which translates to "lucky crown" or "happy crown" and that the non-variegated plant is the true 'Kichiokan'.
These images were taken at the Huntington Botanical gardens, their tagging nomenclature states this to be Agave isthmensis 'Kisshokan' Whatever the name, it's a beautiful plant .
