Rare Bloom Of Agave Plant Spotted In Tulsa Botanic Garden

A plant that typically takes decades to bloom is coming to life at the Tulsa Botanic Garden.

Horticulturalists planted an agave parryi in 2015 just before the garden's Floral Terraces opened. Director of Horticulture Dustin Stoll said a few weeks ago they noticed the plant was blooming.

Agave parryi are often called century plants because it can take 10 to 20 years before they bloom. Once in bloom, the plant can grow as tall as 20 feet with clusters of flower buds that will open to reveal yellow flowers. Stoll said the flowers will then attract pollinators which is great for the garden.

The bloom is also a welcome sight to horticulture staff because agave parryi are native to parts of Arizona, New Mexico, and West Texas so they prefer warm climates. 

"Most agaves are not very cold hardy, so they need some special winter protection," Stoll continued saying, "Two winters ago, we got down to -15 degrees and this year before Christmas we had a wind chill of -20 degrees. That kind of weather is devastating for agaves, so unfortunately this is one of the only ones that has survived the cold temperatures."

While the bloom is exciting, it also signals the end of the plant's life. Stoll said those wanting to witness the unusual sight should plan a visit to the Tulsa Botanic Garden soon.

"You just do not see very many agaves planted in Tulsa to start with and with the time it takes for them to bloom, it is just pretty unusual," he added. "A lot of people can go their entire lifetime and never see an agave bloom, so for some this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Stoll said the mother plant will leave pups behind, or baby agave plants, that his staff can then transplant in other parts of the garden.

To engage the community, Tulsa Botanic Garden is holding a contest for people to guess the height the plant will reach in full bloom. To enter, Click Here. The person with the closest guess or correct answer will win a free one-year membership to the Tulsa Botanic Garden.

The garden is located at 3900 Tulsa Botanic Dr. and is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.