The new book 'INDOOR JUNGLE' has been dominating SNS timelines, with copies flying off Amazon and bookstore shelves. By chance, I spotted it at a local bookstore and managed to snag a copy—so here’s a casual intro. To be honest, I’m still a student when it comes to named Agave cultivars. But that’s exactly why I can share 'things I wish beginners would know'—the kind of insights you’ll never see on the printed page.

These are just my personal thoughts. There may be inaccuracies here and there. I’d love to hear everyone’s opinions, whether you agree or disagree!

What Is 'Agave Titanota Named Cultivar Illustrated Encyclopedia'?

Featured at the start of the freshly-launched 'INDOOR JUNGLE Vol.1' (released September 25, 2023), this is the article everyone in the industry has been waiting for—an in-depth showcase of nothing but named Agave titanota cultivars, each accompanied by photos and descriptions. The book covers 64 entries, including some unnamed types. Even hearing that number, you might think, “Wait, there are that many? No wonder it’s so hard to keep track…” Yet, the visual setup makes it super easy to spot the unique features of each cultivar, helping you discover your favorites. Contributors include top producers and experts such as Pet Shop License, MtFuji Plants, WH NURSERY, DRAGON CLAW (without honorifics), and Daichi Utada, ensuring the credibility is top-tier. This truly is a must-have book for every household! Personally, I plan to make it my go-to guide for collecting named cultivars from now on.

♯ Personally, Tarantula is my favorite.

You can see plenty of sample pages on Amazon.

The Mystery of Famous Named Cultivars Not Included

Wait a sec—where is that ultra-famous named cultivar that once fetched over a million yen at auction? A few other popular types aren’t included, either. Given how sought-after they are, this doesn’t seem to be just a matter of limited space. Does this mean there are 'factions' in the Agave world? (Just kidding!)

So actually, PUKUBOOK, which lists many named cultivars not found in this magazine, might just be the biggest Agave named-cultivar encyclopedia in Japan (LOL). Please check it out, too!

♯ I know, that's a bit presumptuous
♯ Am I going to get in trouble for that?

The Same Named Cultivar Doesn’t Always Grow to Look the Same

One thought I had while reading through the encyclopedia—and this really goes for all plant catalogs: 'Sure, this one looks amazing, but if I buy it, will it grow to look like that?' The honest answer? 'Maybe'. The probability will definitely vary.

Given that these are catalog specimens, the plants shown are the very best examples—producers will have picked their most 'show-stopping' plants (and Amazon’s own description even says, “We provide the best, most feature-rich specimens possible”—which means some individuals don’t have those standout features). These are premium specimens grown by leading professionals and enthusiasts. So just because you get the same clone doesn’t mean yours will look identical. The magazine even features photos of different specimens with the same cultivar name, and if you browse SNS, it’s clear that even the same named cultivar can look quite different depending on the grower. Some will grow into dense, ball-shaped plants, while others sprawl low with bold, jagged teeth on their leaves. This is a great example of how sensitive Agave are to environmental differences.

Plus, even among the specimen plants in the encyclopedia, A and B might look quite different if grown side by side under the same conditions, depending on their origin.

♯ This phenomenon—'It doesn’t grow to look just like the photos online'—isn’t unique to Agave. Think Echeveria obconica, Gymnocalycium mihanovichii, or even cante. might be another example.

Aren’t Offsets Supposed to Be Identical to the Parent?

Since offsets have exactly the same genes as the parent, they’ll look exactly the same, right?

This might seem obvious, but I bet most Agave enthusiasts—or even professional growers—would say, “No, not necessarily.”

So why do offsets sometimes look different? I think there are three main reasons: environment, mutation, and one I’ll call the 'plant age hypothesis.'

We already talked about environment: even genetically identical offsets can look different, and it’s not always easy to tell if those differences come from the environment or from innate genetic variation.

Second, mutation. Offsets and parents don’t always have identical DNA. The most obvious examples are variegation and cresting (monstrose growth)—these are genetic mutations passed down to offsets, meaning the offset is genetically different from the parent and might be considered a distinct variety. While color patterns are easy to spot, there may also be gene-level differences affecting things like leaf or spine size that aren’t obvious at a glance. In fact, as the magazine notes, even with micropropagation (mericlone), “sometimes individuals are born with different features”—and though offsets and mericlones differ in scale, the underlying principle is the same. Offsets can show noticeably different traits as well.

Lastly, plant age. As Agave mature, their leaves develop more rugged features, and some believe that the 'intensity' of an offset depends on the parent’s age or where on the parent it emerged. Offsets produced at the base when the parent is young may develop differently than offsets from the top of a mature, cut parent (especially after 'beheading,' or cutting the plant to encourage new pups). Some suspect the 'intensity' resets, or doesn’t reset, depending on the cutting sequence. The idea is that even if the genes don’t change, cells may 'remember' their age and position—though maybe that itself counts as a genetic change.

※ Just to be clear—none of this is scientifically confirmed, and I haven’t really heard it discussed by others either. It’s not easy to put into words, but I’d love to hear from anyone who has thoughts on it someday.

For all these reasons, when someone asks, “Aren’t ordinary Red Catweazles, Italian Red Catweazles, and these Gorilla Cats from different shops—aren’t they all just Red Catweazle, so aren’t they the same?” The answer is, “Maybe, but maybe not,” or “I personally believe they’re different.” That’s about as close as you get.

♯ On the flipside, sometimes two plants you assumed were different end up looking identical when grown in the same environment. That happens, too!

Prices Will Eventually Settle Down

Now and then you hear comments on SNS like, “Back in the day, that cost tens of thousands of yen…” As I’ve written before (thank you for making that a popular article!), once plant production ramps up, prices always come down. So the rule is actually the opposite: for Agave and all plants, by the time your pricey seedling has matured, the value will probably drop to a tenth of what you paid. At the very least, count on it reaching the price level of similar, common cultivars.

Personally, I’m glad things are moving toward a world where anyone can afford beautiful cultivars—and where new plant lovers can get involved more easily. Rather than thinking, “It used to be so expensive!” I’d rather say, “Isn’t it great we can finally buy these cheaply?” I hope we get to the point where people choose their favorites for their unique features among a wide range of affordable varieties.

♯ Of course, as soon as that happens, new 'high-end' types will appear—guaranteed. That’s capitalism!

You might also find this guide useful for practical tips on 'stocking up' when the market prices start to fall.

What Is a Phenotype?

Here’s a little bonus for the curious. It isn’t a major point, but not many people can explain this, so I wanted to share (one of my focus areas in college was genetics!).

The magazine mentions the unfamiliar term 'phenotype.'

In genetics, an organism’s genetic blueprint is its 'genotype,' while its observable traits—what you see, like leaf shape or color—are its 'phenotype.' Some genes are active, some aren’t; organisms with different genotypes can look the same, and those with the same genotype can look different depending on the environment (think: height and weight in humans). These words were created to help us separate blueprints from finished products.

In the context of Agave, 'phenotype' is used more broadly, to mean 'the unique traits visible among seedlings of the same species or hybrids.' Even among the same species, grown from seed, genetic diversity leads to a wide range of appearances. In this way, 'phenotype' has come to neatly describe the idea that 'plants of the same species can turn out looking very different.' The term is sometimes even used more specifically, referring just to the fiercely toothed look-alike 'siblings' living in Oaxaca—the natural hybrids among Oteroi, Titanota, Kerchovei, and so on.

♯ Personally, this word feels like an invitation to stop worrying so much about offset, environment, or genetics and instead 'celebrate the unique features of the plant right in front of you!' (Sorry if that’s not quite right!)

In Summary

There’s no doubt that 'Agave Titanota Named Cultivar Illustrated Encyclopedia' is the long-awaited new release the whole industry’s been hoping for (I’ve even heard a pro nursery manager lament, 'There are so many names for Agave these days, I just can’t keep up!'). Now that there’s a guide, this fascinating world is sure to spread to even more people.

With sincere thanks to the editors and contributors for bringing this book together, I personally can’t wait to dive even deeper into the world of named cultivars!