One of our century plants is blooming. I first noticed it Monday, a strange spike shooting up from the center of the plant, already three to four feet tall. Today the spike, or bloom, has reached eye level, close to six feet. That’s two to three feet of growth in four days. I’m impressed.
Here’s what Wikipedia has to say about century plants and their once-in-a-lifetime blooms:
The misnamed century plant typically lives only 10 to 30 years. It has a spreading rosette (about 4 m/13 ft wide) of gray-green leaves up to 2 m (6.6 ft) long, each with a spiny margin and a heavy spike at the tip that can pierce to the bone.
When it flowers, the spike with a cyme of big yellow flowers may reach up to 8 m (26 ft) in height. Its common name likely derives from its semelparous nature of flowering only once at the end of its long life. The plant dies after flowering, but produces suckers or adventitious shoots from the base, which continue its growth.
Fancy talk for a plant boner, eh?
Seriously, though, you can’t believe how fast these spikes grow. I’ll keep an eye on it and let you know how high it gets. And if it sprouts yellow flowers, I’ll take more photos.
Wait a minute. Pierce to the BONE? Yes, please take more pictures, but from a very safe distance.