My Agave potatorum, which maxed out at about 2 feet in diameter, is one example. We live in Malaysia. the one in my grandparents front yard is now forming a stalk the sad thing is that when it falls it will land in the paved road ); im thinking of tying a rope around stalk Any suggestions or advice would be much appreciated. I’m sure the chances of getting two blooms in as many years is quite slim, so we are definitely celebrating around here! They feel right at home in modern landscapes or more traditional southwest xeriscapes and make … Agave nectar, now sold in many supermarkets, is a popular natural sweetener. Much to my amazement, only days after cutting it, another Agave in my front yard, (different species) is beginning to bloom! See more at How to Grow and Care for Agave. Beautiful post! I would hate to harm the mother plant in any way. Hi Debra – I have really enjoyed your book and I’ve already preordered your next book from Amazon. I know it will not last forever. It’s the easiest plant in the world to grow, though, and magnificent while it lasts. Evaluate the clump in terms of the aesthetics of your garden. If you are the type of person who likes to fuss with houseplants and water a lot, Agave is probably not the plant for you. Other than this issue the plant is very large and healthy. Is my beautiful plant going to die after this bloom process? Agave americana‘s stalk is about the diameter of a telephone pole and nearly as tall. So interesting architecturally and different from what goes here in New England… though I do have Yucca growing … out of character I know for our landscape… and this member of the Agave family does not seem to die after blooming. Agave plants are perhaps best known for tequila, which is made from the steamed, mashed, fermented and distilled hearts of the blue agave. When it comes to Agave americana, when it blooms, it’s not only bittersweet, it’s a calamity—like having a big tree in your yard suddenly die. An agave bloom is truly cause for a little mourning and for celebration. Taxonomy. This is the main species in the genus … I have a huge century plant in my backyard that finally toppled over…and all the green pods look with the yellow flowers look to be something I should be doing something with…can someone advise what I should do with this marvelous looking huge stalk of pods and things…I hate to just toss it…. It’s such a beautiful plant, my wife Princess and I hated to hear that it will die once it flowers. I have 2 agaves in my front yard that are growing stalks right now. Also do you know where I can purchase a blue whale agave, I’m having a hard time finding one down here in Miami. It arrived this morning and I ripped the packaging off while the postman was still standing there, which he found very amusing. Hi, Bought and moved into a new house in a Bayside area of Brisbane 9 months ago. Loved the agave lesson, Debra. Thanks for anyone with any kind of thoughts. here in Portugal we have found that cutting the flower stem of these agaves works. ps – my caps lock seems to have deserted me. Lechuguilla: A Short Plant with a Long History. They are just amazing. The stalk, now about 5 feet tall, has grown a foot a week and is as yet unbranched. We don’t have many agave here in Virginia so this was very interesting to see all the different flower stalks. Hello: The agave that is sending up a flower stalk is amazingly tall and I await the flowering. And of course, don’t plant agaves near walkways, dog runs or play areas! Agave tequilana azul: Weber's blue agave is used to make tequila, but it is also a very attractive garden plant, reaching upward of 6 feet tall and flowering in six to eight years with yellow blooms. I planted 1 inground 1 in a pot. Agave is a succulent plant native to the American Southwest. It blooms after ten years or more in spring and dies after flowering. the flower stems we cut up and placed in vases indoors. I’ve really come to appreciate succulents and I’m now in the process of planting my southwest facing back yard in Scripps Ranch with them. My century plant just pushed out its stem 2 weeks ago. I was thrilled! It is good that the Agave plants live so long before blooming … sad that they give their life giving birth… wow ….really so many offspring? wE’VE BEEN TOLD OUR PLANT IS A “CENTURY PLANT.” tHANK YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATIVE WEBSITE! well at least I get to plant them in my small little patch. Debra. Thanks, Loree. It is probably 8 feet tall and ten feet wide. It is very beautiful plant and interesting to watch this happen, but sad to find out it is going to die. Hope you have room for all your babies! They are all stunning photos. Thanks. It blooms itself to death (but it’s also supremely easy to replace, as it’s sold in most supermarkets, in fact, I’ve given it the common name “supermarket kalanchoe.”) If it’s color you’re after, aloes have spectacular blooms in midwinter, and the leaves of some will redden in full sun. Agave angustifolia ‘Marginata’ or Variegated Caribbean Agave is a small beautiful Agave with stiff short sword shape leaves with cream colored margins. Agaves are nothing if not determined to reproduce. I am growing mine mostly indoors with bright morning sunlight and filtered afternoon sunlight. I have a question. Wetland Status. Hi Debra, The Agave most commonly referred to as “the Century Plant” is Agave americana, which has been used in the landscapes throughout California for over 75 years. If you let it bloom, new little plants will form along the spike once the flowers are finished. Since reading your book and articles I have a whole new appreciation for succulents…and a new hobby. It gets over 100 for a few days each year, but I didn’t loose anything in the 2007 freeze. Deana, I have an agave Americana that is almost 30 years old in my garden in Italy. I always bend the pointed ends in and leave curled ends where I walk by. As the mother agave dies, it can no longer support its towering stalk. But I took some beginning pics now and will continue to watch its growth. The stalk has started to lean slightly. there are already lots of pups around the sides. My books: Designing with Succulents, Succulent Container Gardens, and Succulents Simplified. When you do repot, refresh the spent soil with a new potting mix and make sure the plant is firmly anchored in its pot. Agave … My agave is approx. I have an agave plant had no idea thats what it was till i googled it it grew all last winter and the winter before last and now it blooming. I suspect that agaves in pots don’t bloom as quickly as those in the ground. Do I just put them in potting soil and cover or is there something else I should do? Diane, that is fascinating! I have this plant purchased in ’98 when very young. A glass panel … We have s blooming century plant right now. They are collapsing everywhere in the neighborhood, and I’d like to do something creative with the bloom. Debra. question -WAS I JUST LUCKY AND LEAVE IT ALONE OR MOVE TO A DRYER LOCATION WITH POOR SOIL? How can I get them to grow. Debra–Thank you for such an informative and beautiful post. I enjoyed this article very much. When the spike emerges from the center of the agave rosette, it resembles an asparagus spear. Description: Agave americana is a large succulent plant of the Asparagaceae family. Actually, not that many succulents do. How very nice of you to tell me this and also everyone who reads the post and who may want more info about gardening with agaves. Agave angustifolia Haw. Debra and husband Jeff live in the foothills north of San Diego. Debra. Your own garden is absolutely lovely btw, and you have the cutest little cat! The height of the bloom stalk is often many times higher than the plant. Is there a recommended place to saw off the trunk in this situation?? I read it grows very fast and it is in a perfect spot where it can grow as tall as it likes, next to some 40 to 50-feet pine trees. Being a So Cal native, Agaves are all too familiar, but none the less always spectacular to see bloom. The stock is growing 6” per day, an unreal pace. The attenuata spike is lovely, but they are all striking. India. I had this agave for thirty years and it is now starting to bloom! So sky’s the limit! My agave plant just started blooming a stalk out of the center and I didn’t know what was happening so I started researching and found out it does this only once in its life time and will die after. Debra. 18′ tall and the arms are beginning to reach out. Any suggestions you may have for my project would be greatly appreciated. Patricia. The agave stalk can be harvested and then placed in a heavy pot to by displayed as a piece of yard art. I’m in San Diego. I have an agave blue ember that has decided to bloom after ten years in the ground. Maybe I’ll ask some of the pros at the Cactus & Succulent Society show next week. (I must read generally about 100 lines to get 1 good new information; though i usually do it in a diagonal mode fast reading not 100 % efficient). Thank you. When the stalk can no longer nourish them, they’re good to go! I have pictures if you want to see them. Caribbean Agave, Mescal Agave, Century Plant, Narrow-Leaved Century Plant, Maguey, Agave elongata, Agave lespinassei, Agave wightii, Agave wrightii, Agave yaquiana, Agave zapupe, Agave vivipara (misapplied), Family: Asparagaceae The blooms are gone and the base is beginning to deteriorate. Debra. Augustifolia has sword shaped leaves. Any advice on what to expect would be appreciated. about 4 months ago. After wintering in the Mexican tropics, bats migrate northward through the desert following the south-to-north wave of spring-blooming … trunks from the base of the plant with yellow flowers. Moon Valley Nurseries is proud to offer the best-looking agaves, including the easy to grow Caribbean Agave! Check out http://www.debraleebaldwin.com for more ideas. Each branch cluster holds dozens. We pulled apart the mature outside ones and were are to upright them. Be aware that some of the large varieties will eventually outgrow your room (unless you have a large greenhouse), and Agave can be aggressive. Hi, Susie — I like the wickedly long and tapered tips of Agave potatorum. Thank you. I did not know it was agave til resently it started growing a stalk out of the center and I didn’t know what was happening because it never had done this in the past. It was planted around 1994 or just prior. Sorry for my clumsy English; i am a Spaniard . I don’ t want to leave it this way if that will hurt the plant. How amazing this plant is when you water once a month and ignore it. we noticed that there are at least 100 tiny seedpods falling everywhere. Leave them on as long as you can. Agave is not a difficult plant to grow. Can I force the plant to flower? If pups conceal a sawn-off trunk, then perhaps you want to leave it as is and let the pups continue to enlarge. I bet you will miss this pretty plant however you will have all those babies. Thank you! It is worth trying, especially as no special work was needed. Now all these blooms are falling into the garden. I’ve never heard of the term “monocarpic”. Mine collapsed like wet Kleenix during the freeze of ’07 (it got down to 19 degrees), and even in milder years (no lower than 30 degrees) any out in the open get spots on their leaves and tip burn. 2 bought med size in pot planted & are doing great. sheesh. Award-winning garden photojournalist Debra Lee Baldwin authored Designing with Succulents, Succulent Container Gardens, and Succulents Simplified, all Timber Press bestsellers. Her hobbies include thrifting, birding and watercolor painting. Can and how can I send you a picture I would like to share some photos but I am unable to load here. What is even more impressive is the fact that most agave varieties die after they bloom, … Thanks. To our shock we saw the spike enrage and grew about 3-4 feet in just 2 weeks. I have 3 blue silver surfer agaves. Hi, Lisa—In inland San Diego gardens, Agave attenuata does best with some light shade to protect it from extreme sun in summer, especially in the afternoon. Debra. It is mid-October and still in the ’90s here, so don’t think the cold [probably in January/February] weather will affect the blooms at all. Can I plant the spikes that are coming out of the dead flowers? Hi, Nicole — Agaves have fibrous leaves, and yours is notable in that it’s the one that sisal is made from. Around these parts, aloe take place but will look for some today. But your entire agave will die once it has finished flowering whether you cut off the stalk or not. How long does it take until it blooms? Those are amazing plants! It’s similar to honey but dissolves more readily in cold liquid and is not as strongly flavored. Several years ago one of the hardier species was flowering at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens and it became a media event, luring non-gardeners into a world they would not have otherwised experienced. I also bought 2 online & basically got ripped off and some little pups arrived. I’m afraid it’s a goner. i’ve seen impressive agave flower spikes in my neighborhood, and finally got one, but alas… turns out it’s bad news! Debra. Healthy plants, with their plentiful slender and spiked leaves, almost look like a … My question is: in your experience how long does agave take to sprout pups? I’m sure it will be many years before I have the experience, but I can quite imagine the bittersweet in the advent of an agave bloom. Thank you. Agave Angustifolia var. I have a question. jam or syrup or some dessert concoction? Now after 17 years it sprouted this asparagus in middle which has stem like branches with little clusters. Agave nectar and pollen are major food sources on the northernmost and southward legs of the bats' migratory routes. Do I wait until they dry out and shrivel up? I loved the overview of the different agaves and their particular bloom styles. I would estimate the age of this plant to be less than 10 years. Debra. I have noticed many agaves are sending up flower stalks now. I have my plant potted in a small entry way garden and don’t have room to let them fall and propagate. Our agave cactus has produced a stalk and the top has bloomed. It’s also the most frost tender agave, so planting it beneath a lacy tree will protect it from cold. We just moved to Southern New Mexico a few years ago and promptly planted several agave in our yard–just love them! Once it’s done blooming my plan is to cut, dry and preserve it and use it like a “sculpture” in my livingroom. Most Trichocereus species have a white flower. Agave angustifolia is a succulent plant that grows up to 3.3 feet (1 m) tall, forming large rosettes of narrow, stiffly, erect leaves with moderately-spaced spines. Pacifica”, is a succulent, evergreen cactus plant, native to Mexico and Central America. Donna Jones. The specimens you’ll see are amazing. Thank you for all your informative and beautiful articles! After all, you and your guests aren’t likely to see such an event again (in your garden) for at least another 14 years. Alas, Agave attenuata is the most frost-tender agave that I know of. The Caribbean Agave almost resembles a Yucca. Now I have two of those magnificent plants about to commit suicide and I am distraught. Actually, it’s 15 to 20 years…sooner, if you pamper it with rich soil and ample water. Furcraeas, aeoniums and sempervivums come to mind. Can I pull them off safely and propagate them in pots? Hybrids bloom in so many colors, from bright pink, light … This year the crown part was bent over on it’s side. Very cool plants, visually and historically. You’re right—yuccas, which are related to agaves, don’t bloom after flowering. the spikes are slightly separated. Narrowleaf agave is a long-lived evergreen perennial native from Sonora, Mexico southward to Costa Rica. Debra's YouTube channel has had over 3,000,000 views. The key is to know your garden’s microclimates—it might do really well for you, for example, planted against a wall of your house. and putting a very small amount of tension on the stalk so that it will fall in the yard and spread its little babies, how long after the tall stalk of the plant starts , does it take for the full bloom to appear. I have an Agave in my backyard in southwest Texas where there is little to no rain. ‘marginata’ is one of only a dozen or so Agave sp. Fortunately by the time agave flower spikes are ready to fall over, they’ve dried out and don’t weigh much. Isn’t nature amazing? If this lets me send photos I’ll put some great agaves. She grew up in Southern California on an avocado ranch, speaks conversational Spanish, and at age 18 graduated magna cum laude from USIU with a degree in English Literature. °F ( +10 °C ) to 50 °F ( −6.7 °C ) waiting to the... As, “ agave angustifolia var however, be mean to agave angustifolia bloom. ) falling bottom leaves then... 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