Agaves are one of my prime choices when selecting plants for gardens, containers or landscapes. The variety of size, color and symmetrical patterns of Agaves make them a perfect candidate for interesting landscapes. Generally, all agaves love plenty of light and space to grow and, except extreme cold, these plants can survive tough conditions.
Source: http://www.thelovelyplants.com/agaves/
Agaves are succulents with a large rosette of thick fleshy leaves.
There are several hundreds species of Agave.