The Agave americana plant at Big Bloomers Flower Farm in Tramway has been growing for more than 20 years. The store posted to its Facebook account on April 9 that someone there “just noticed (the plant) is going to bloom!”
At the time, the so-called “century plant” – a name that comes from an old timey belief that the succulent native to Mexico and the southwestern United States bloomed only once every hundred years – already stood taller than most people, and was easily as wide across as three or four.
In the past two months, it’s practically become the Sanford area’s newest skyscraper.
As of May 28, a single stalk bigger around than most human arms can reach had emerged from the plant to tower at least 30 feet in height, well over the building’s side, and Big Bloomers has chronicled the progress each day in social media posts. They’ve used drone cameras to capture the fascinating plant from all kinds of fascinating angles.
It’s known today that the Agave americana lives from 10 to 30 years, but does bloom only once before dying. The one at Big Bloomers has been there for parts of three decades, according to Corey V, an employee working at the store on May 28.
“This one was the offspring of the original one that was here back in the 70s,” he said “We were hoping to collect some offspring from this one, but unfortunately this one hasn’t produced any more.”
Corey says there’s still “a few weeks” before the blooms open up. Big Bloomers’ staff has encouraged people to come by and take a look, calling the blooming “a moment we have eagerly awaited for a long time” in a post on social media.
After the bloom is over – Corey described the flowers as looking “almost like dandelions” – the plant will wither up and will need to be cut down. Corey said the owners at Big Bloomers are still evaluating what to do with the space next, since they don’t have another Agave to replace the one that’s been there since the mid 1990s. You can follow the Agave’s final days at www.facebook.com/bigbloomersflowerfarm or by visiting the store at 275 Pressly Foushee Road.
I went to see this plant a couple weeks ago, it is really tall, hope to see it bloom
This plant has made pups for years. I was last over there 2 years ago and there were numerous pups skirting it. They should’ve saved some.
I’ve got two blooming at my house one big one small one
We had one to bloom last year afterwards cut the stalk out and it didn’t die still living