Have you noticed the GIANT flowering stalks on two of the plants at the corner of Nevada Highway and Veterans Memorial Drive?
Well, say hello and get ready to say goodbye to them because they’re ‘Century Plants’ and as they near the end of their 10-30 year lifespan, the plants send up a single 25-30 foot branched stalk, laden with yellow blossom before it dies.
Although ‘Decade Plants’ would be a more accurate name, it’s common name of ‘Century Plant’ is derived from its ‘semelparous’ nature of flowering only once at the end of its long life.
Good news though, the plant produces suckers from its base and a new generation will take root a few feet away to last us for another 10+ years…
