A. toumeyana var. bella is a rare and unusual plant with particularly dense rosettes that seems to get more spectacular the older it gets

The variety "bella" is much smaller than the typical Agave toumeyana. It has shorter leaves, and makes a denser rosette.

Description: Small rosettes, up to 20 cm in diameter, 25 cm tall, each with 100–200 leaves at maturity Individual rosettes are small and compact, but plants sucker readily forming large clumps.
Leaves: 9 to 20 cm long, 0.6 to 2 cm wide of equal length giving the rosette a flat-topped appearance, light to dark green, flat-topped, with striking white markings. Leaf margins are smooth with a brown border and white threadlike  curling white threads, replaced by denticulate margins below  1/3 of leaf. The white filaments on the leaf edges curl to resemble tight ringlets. When it gets watered on, the filaments immediately partly uncurl, but as they dry out they slowly re-curl again.
Flowers: The flower stalk (spike) is smaller ( 1.5 m tall) than in the typical variety with pale greenish yellow flowers 1.6–2.1 cm; limb lobes 6.5–7 mm; filaments 1.1–1.3 cm.
Flowering time: Late spring. early summer.

Cultivation:  Agave toumeyana bella is a very cold hardy form of the species. It is theoretically hardy  to -12°C (or more) particularly when dry. It  is a relative easy-to-grow species. Need  a very well-drained, soil.   It  grows fairly fast in summer if provided with copious water but allows to dry thoroughly before watering again. During the winter months, one should only water enough to keep the leaves from shrivelling. They do well in full sun or a lightly shaded area. Plants cultivated outdoors are drought tolerant and takes blasting heat and full sun. It is a  wonderful companion plant for Echinocereus and Escobaria cacti species.

Propagation: By suckers  which often are found growing around the base of the plant,  Remove the basal suckers (if available) in spring or summer and let the cuttings dry for a few days before inserting in compost or by seed.
 

Scientific name:  Agave toumeyana var. bella Breitung,  Pubblished in: Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles). 32: 81, fig. 41. 1960

Origin:  Central Arizona (USA) restricted to the eastern slope of the Bradshaw Mountains, eastern Yavapai to northwestern and central to southern Gila County, northeastern Maricopa to northern Pinal County.

Habitat: Occurs on open gravelly to rocky limestone or basalt slopes, mostly with desert scrub, chaparral, and pinyon juniper woodlands; 800 1700 m;

Conservation status: Listed in CITES appendix 2.

Common Names include: Miniature Century Plant, Fairy-ring agave, Silver Dollar, Agave

• Agave toumeyana ssp. bella (Breitung) Gentry

The leaves are thin, stiff with striking white markings and adorned with curling white threads giving the small rosettes an appealing tidy appearance