Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Wednesday - June 17, 2009
From: Lake Jackson, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Cacti and Succulents
Title: Life span of the century plant (Agave spp.)
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have a beautiful century plant that is blooming. what will happen once the bloom is done? What is the life span of the plant?ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants has answered this, or a similar, question several times so 'he' would like to refer you to some of those answers where you can learn more about Agave americana (American century plant), or Agave spp., and their life cycles. Please see the following questions and their answers: #4082, #3424, #1427, and #648. You can find even more information by typing in "century plant" in the Keyword Search slot on the Ask Mr. Smarty Plants page.
More Cacti and Succulents Questions
Bringing upright a leaning cholla cactus
August 29, 2013 - I have a 3 ft. tall Cylindropuntia bigelovii
that fell over after recent rains. I righted it and supported it with garden stakes for about a month. I was afraid to pull too hard on the low...
view the full question and answer
Preserving the agave bloom for decoration from Sedona AZ
April 28, 2012 - I have an agave century plant which is starting to bloom. Is there some way I can preserve the flower as a decoration piece?
view the full question and answer
How do cacti stay in ground
February 25, 2005 - How do cacti stay in ground? I know that flowers stay in the ground by their roots but what about cacti?
view the full question and answer
Spineless prickly pear from Lago Vista TX
April 30, 2012 - We visited Lady Bird Johnson Center yesterday. I was impressed with the spine less prickly pear cactus. Is it a native or a hybrid?
view the full question and answer
Ingestion of agave sap from Albuquerque NM
June 11, 2013 - My boyfriend was out in the Arizona desert without water for two days and sought moisture through what he thought was a yucca plant but instead we believe was agave. He sucked the moisture off the ins...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |