Agave americana

Plants with Claws

| Flower Roberts

Plants need to protect themslves. They cannot run away from danger. They have to survive where they are. This means some form of defense is needed.

Agave with weapons.


My century plants have claws. I have been scratched and stabbed by these over the years. The new claws are a lovely red, warning color.

I got both of these agaves from a charming plant store on Oakracoke Island years ago. That is where I first saw a Century Plant bloom close up. Wow, they are amazing.

Yes, I am the one posing in the road. Ha

Once in a Lifetime


My two babies are about big enough to put in the ground. I must be careful doing this. I will not worry about hungry enemies with teeth. A claw in the nose will do the trick.

Armed agaves

Then all I have to do is wait sixty years or do for it to bloom!

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FLOWER

Protecting Others But Not Self

| Flower Roberts

This is not a case of altruism. It is an example of my mindlessness…again. Head one place; hand somewhere else.

We moved the Century Plants back to their favorite spots on the wall. They love the heat from underneath.

Two Centurys

I put on gloves to prune off dead leaves. These plants need sun and very little water. The only time I touch them is to trim old leaves and remove pups.

Mama agave and pup

When they stayed inside I clipped off the spikes. They are big enough to leave out, so they may go in the ground this fall. These bloom only once in a lifetime. I hope I live to see the giant flower stalks.

Century plants

I put sticks with balls on the ends to prevent passers-by from running into the mean spikes at the end of each leaf.


I needed one more stick. I took off my gloves to search, but did not put them back on. OUCH! The sap is poisonous.

Red but not swollen.

I think I heard a whisper from one of the agaves. It sounded like ” Touche!”

Et tu agave?

Injured FLOW

Waiting for a Century

| Flower Roberts

I clearly remember seeing my first Century Plant blooming on a beach outing years ago. I walked under the tall stalk of blooms in disbelief. My next encounter was in California. I made my friend, Lisa, turn the rental car around to drive back for photos.

Century plant blooming in Napa Valley California

Century plants actually take decades to bloom , not a century. Sadly, the plant dies after blooming.

I finally got two, tiny Century plants of my own while on Ocracoke Island. That is me under the stalk of a blooming Agave americana on Ocracoke Island.

One of my Agave was labeled ‘Whale’s Tongue.’ Both are years away from blooming. I am afraid to leave them out during the winter here in Zone 7.

I have seen several growing in yards, so maybe I will get brave and leave them out when they get too big to haul inside like this one.

Century Plant under tent in Charlotte, NC

They are quite dangerous. I must be careful when moving them and cleaning them off. Both plants have put out pups, so I will have a collection of them eventually.

I love their smoky blue color. I love their purple spikes.( Or is that my blood in the points?)

I like being able to see the symmetry of the largest one from above by looking over the deck railing.

FLOW with her slow plants