Agaves could very well be the new Echeverias . I really do still like ‘playing’ with echeverias, but    no longer require the hundreds I used to save every winter in our greenhouses. In my book ‘The Jewel Box Garden’ (Timber Press), echeverias are showcased very well . But it is agaves that steal the show every time they are used in mixed succulent pots or on their own.
With a very organized and formal growth habit, agaves have no choice but to be the focal point ! Incredibly sharp spines are waiting on every leaf tip, so admire from a distance.  Agaves are easy to grow in pots – full sun, not too much water, and (atleast in the Northwest), not left out all winter as they will freeze and rot with our constant wetness.  Grow them indoors in your brightest window during the cold season, and place back outside when it warms up.
For this Spring, Southlands has brought in hundreds of baby agaves, in named varieties. These are the result of tissue culture (cloning), and  are subsequently very well-priced . We are growing them on, and will start selling them soon !