Norfolk Botanical Garden - Our Collection

Agave

Agave sp.

Agave neomexicana

This summer the Garden features two agaves that are blooming. Agaves are monocarpic - they will flower only once in their lifetime and then die. Most agaves live between 5 and 35 years before blooming. For these two plants, this summer's flowering is a once-in-a-lifetime event.

In the World of Wonders: A Children's Adventure Garden a Mescal or New Mexico Agave (Agave parryi ssp. neomexicana) is flowering in the Plant Safari section (photo on right). This agave is native to southern New Mexico and west Texas, found in the Chihuahan desert. It will grow to about 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide in a rosette of stout gray to light-green leaves with small spikes on the leaf edges. The flower stalk will grow between 12 and 15 feet tall. The alcoholic drink mescal is made from this plant.

In the Tropical Garden, along the banks of the canal a Century Plant (Agave americana) is starting to bloom. A good view of this plant can be seen from across the canal near the Matson Garden. Century plant is native to northern Mexico and extreme southern regions of the U.S. from California to Texas. This is a much larger plant with the rosette of stiff spiky leaves growing to 6 feet tall and wide. At maturity, older leaves often droop at the tip. The flower stalk will grow to 25 feet tall or possibly more.

Photos of the bloom progression for the century plant will be posted below so check back to see more photos during the season.

Century Plant

Agave americana

Mescal

Agave parryi ssp. neomexicana

Centruy Plant

June 9

Agave neomexicana in WOW

June 25

Century Plant - June 25

June 25

Mescal - June 25

June 25