General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Cactus/Succulent
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 10a -1.1 °C (30 °F) to +1.7 °C (35 °F)
Plant Height: 1-2 feet
Plant Spread: 1-2 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Variegated
Fruit: Dehiscent
Flowers: Showy
Suitable Locations: Xeriscapic
Uses: Will Naturalize
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Drought tolerant
Toxicity: Other: The juice from many species of agave can cause acute contact dermatitis that produces reddening and blistering lasting approximately one to two weeks. Itching may recur up to a year later without a visible rash. Dried parts of the plants can be handled sa
Propagation: Seeds: Can handle transplanting
Other info: Sow in shallow pots with a well draining, sterile mix; 50/50 organic/inorganic of coarse perlite, pumice; sphagnum peat or good compost. Avoid manures. Irrigate from below by submerging in water to 1/2 height of pot. Provide bright, indirect light and a
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Offsets
Other: Bulbils
Containers: Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil
With thorns/spines/prickles/teeth
Monocarpic
Parentage: Sport of: Kichijokan
Child plants: 3 child plants

Image
Common names
  • Happy Crown Agave
  • Lucky Crown Agave
  • Century Plant
  • Maguey

Photo Gallery
Location: Sacramento CA.
Date: 2023-09-22
Happy Crown Agave (Agave 'Kissho Kan') growing at “The Prickly
Uploaded by ketsui73

Date: 2019-01-01
Location: Green Springs Gardens, Annandale, VA
Date: Dec 20, 2018
Location: Winter under led lights
Location: Cisco, Tx (between Dallas and Abilene)
Date: 2018-03-27
Location: US National Arboretum, Washington DC, US
Date: 2014-08-10
Butterfly agave (Agave 'Kissho Kan'). Called Lucky crown century
Location: Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory, Baltimore, Maryland
Date: 2017-02-01
Location: Baja California
Date: 2020-09-07
Location: US National Arboretum, Washington DC, US
Date: 2014-08-10
Butterfly agave (Agave 'Kissho Kan'). Called Lucky crown century
Location: Green Springs Garden, Annandale, VA
Date: Dec 20, 2018
Location: 2019 Flower Show in Philadelphia
Date: 2019-03-02
symmetry! exhibited by Lynn Carbonell, Garden Club of Wilmington
Uploaded by jkbingh
Location: Plymouth Nursery, Plymouth, MI
Date: 2011-05-12
Location: Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory, Baltimore, Maryland
Date: 2017-02-01
Location: US National Arboretum, Washington DC
Date: 2015-05-24
Happy Crown Agave (Agave 'Kichijokan). Called Butterfly agave, Lu
Location: US National Arboretum, Washington DC, US
Date: 2017-08-27
Location: 2019 Flower Show in Philadelphia
Date: 2019-03-02
emerging baby
Location: My garden in N E Pa. 
Date: 2014-05-24
Location: My garden in N E Pa. 
Date: 2015-11-16
Location: San Diego, CA
Date: 2018-06-03
taken at San Diego summer 2018 cactus and succulent show
Location: US National Arboretum, Washington DC, US
Date: 2014-08-10
Butterfly agave (Agave 'Kissho Kan'). Called Lucky crown century
Location: US National Arboretum, Washington DC, US
Date: 2017-08-27
Butterfly agave (Agave 'Kissho Kan'). Called Lucky crown century
Uploaded by jkbingh
Location: Plymouth Nursery, Plymouth, MI
Date: 2011-05-12
Location: Plymouth Nursery, Plymouth, MI
Date: 2011-05-12
Location: Plymouth Nursery, Plymouth, MI
Date: 2011-05-12
Location: Plymouth Nursery, Plymouth, MI
Date: 2011-05-12
Location: US National Arboretum, Washington DC
Date: 2015-05-24
Happy Crown Agave (Agave 'Kichijokan). Called Butterfly agave, Lu
Location: US National Arboretum, Washington DC
Date: 2015-05-24
Happy Crown Agave (Agave 'Kichijokan). Called Butterfly agave, Lu
Location: US National Arboretum, Washington DC
Date: 2015-05-24
Happy Crown Agave (Agave 'Kichijokan). Called Butterfly agave, Lu
Location: US National Arboretum, Washington DC
Date: 2015-05-24
Happy Crown Agave (Agave 'Kichijokan). Called Butterfly agave, Lu
Location: NC zone 7A
Date: 2012-02-23
Uploaded by robertduval14
Location: NC zone 7A
Date: 2012-02-23
Daggers on the leaf tips are fierce
Comments:
  • Posted by Baja_Costero (Baja California - Zone 11b) on Jun 7, 2018 6:19 PM concerning plant:
    Attractive clumping variegated dwarf agave with many blue and white striped leaves in a tight rosette.

    The non-variegated (all-blue) parent of this plant has gone by various names (also "Kissho Kan", "Kichiokan", "Kitsusyokan") based on the original kanji. The currently accepted "Kichijokan" was published in Starr's "Agaves" (2012). This name can be loosely translated to "Happy Crown" or "Lucky Crown" -- those have been used as common names in English speaking countries. It is from the potatorum/isthmensis group, though its precise species origin is not clear.

    "Kissho Kan" is but the most common of several variegated forms of this all-blue parent. Its leaf margins are a pale creamy color.

    Frost sensitive. Provide excellent drainage. A well behaved if somewhat prolific landscape plant, and an excellent, long-lived container plant as well. Most compact form in full sun. Easily propagated from offsets.

    After some good rain when the plant is growing in full swing, the spines may be various colors. They emerge yellow and pass through orange and red to brown and eventually whitish grey in maturity. This plant is quite photogenic, especially at maturity and especially when in active growth. Best form with strong light; plants in low light will have longer leaves and more open rosettes.
Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
ID question by Baja_Costero Mar 14, 2019 7:00 AM 10

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