Houston, Tx
Massive century plant about to flower in front yard of Houston house
The century plant seems to be about two tales tall and can solely bloom as soon as earlier than dying.
HOUSTON — It is nearly like one thing out of a fairy story: An enormous stalk rising from the middle of an agave plant is stopping residents of a small Houston neighborhood of their tracks.
You could have seen vegetation like these earlier than, however most likely not one this massive. The plant seems to be two tales excessive and it nonetheless has not completed rising. What seems to be like an unlimited spear of asparagus is rising half a foot taller every day from the middle of a plant.
“They’re associated to the asparagus that we purchase on the grocery retailer,” Houston Botanic Gardens Horticulture Director Fran de la Mota mentioned. “If we take a look at the flowering stem that’s arising, it really does appear like a large asparagus.”
The succulent rising to be as tall because the treetops is often generally known as a century plant.
De la Mota mentioned they stay someplace within the vary of 10 to 30 years, and so they solely produce flowers as soon as — proper earlier than the top of their lives.
“They bloom simply as soon as of their lifetime after which they die after they flower,” De la Mota mentioned.
The plant’s stalk, which may develop as tall as 30 toes, has drawn quite a lot of consideration to the entrance yard by which it is planted. Curious drivers cease their automobiles to take an image subsequent to the magic stalk earlier than it’s gone.
But when individuals are ready to see fireworks as soon as the flowers bloom, they’ll probably be dissatisfied.
“The flowers aren’t very showy,” he mentioned. “The present is basically extra the dimensions of the flower stalk as a result of it’s so gigantic in comparison with different vegetation, proper?”
The time to understand this pure suburban surprise is now. The century plant solely has just a few weeks left earlier than it says farewell.