Flowering Agave
octopus agave (Agave vilmoriniana)

The Fascinating Process of Flowering Agave

Plants can do some spectacular things, and the dramatic process when agave send up their flowering agave stalk, definitely qualifies. Yesterday, I noticed that my octopus agave (Agave vilmoriniana) had begun to send up its fleshy shoot. 

I must confess that I had mixed feelings about it. My first reaction was excitement in getting to view the impressive growth of the fleshy stem and the flowers that will follow. But then, I felt sad that this signaled the beginning of the end for my octopus agave. 

A Generational Agave Journey in My Garden

You see, this agave is the ‘grandbaby’ of the first agave that I ever planted, back in the late 1990’s, making three generations of flowering agave in my Arizona garden.

 octopus agave in a container

Agave Sibling Growth and Transplanting

Eventually, that agave flowered, and I harvested one of the babies and planted it in a pot. Several years later, that octopus agave went through the same process, and I collected two babies.

Baby octopus agave in a pot Flowering Agave

The two siblings started out growing in a pot, and when they got large enough, I transplanted them out into the garden.

This octopus agave will be Flowering Agave soon

One was planted in a corner but had a short-lived stint in the garden as construction near the wall meant that it had to go.

Preparing for the Next Generation of Flowering Agave

Octopus agave full sized in sun

Its sibling did great in its new spot in the front garden when it was planted in 2010, and now it is getting ready for babies.

Flowering Agave creating baby bulbils

The tiny baby agave are barely visible, and the stalk will grow several inches a day.

Life Expectancy of an Agave

Octopus agave with flowering agave stem

Octopus agave don’t have a long lifespan and mine average eight years in the ground before they flower. They will grow much more quickly if you irrigate them excessively, so keep watering in check.

octopus agave bulbils

In a few months, miniature octopus agave will cover the flowering stalk, which can be easily detached and replanted in the garden. It’s hard to believe that I will be planting the fourth generation of agave in my garden.

*I will keep you updated as it continues to grow and the arrival of baby agave.

Beautiful Agave: A Fourth Generation Begins

Noelle Johnson, aka, 'AZ Plant Lady' is a author, horticulturist, and landscape consultant who helps people learn how to create, grow, and maintain beautiful desert gardens that thrive in a hot, dry climate. She does this through her consulting services, her online class Desert Gardening 101, and her monthly membership club, Through the Garden Gate. As she likes to tell desert-dwellers, "Gardening in the desert isn't hard, but it is different."
7 replies
  1. Ashley
    Ashley says:

    It is sad to see a cherished plant die, but it’s at least you know that you’ll get to see it live on. A fourth generation is impressive! It’s a beautiful agave; I love its form. It definitely is reminiscent of an octopus.

  2. Denise P
    Denise P says:

    That is so interesting! I’ve never seen an agave with “babies” like that. And so many of them. You could supply your whole neighborhood.

  3. Jenny
    Jenny says:

    Sadness for sure but also enjoyment in watching that amazing flower stalk. I have a similar family of A. Desmettiana but only from pups. The mother tried to flower one year but winter got to it first.

  4. Candace
    Candace says:

    Do you know of anyone in the Phoenix area who sells dried agave stalks? I was recently on a desert hike and noticed how many birds love to sit on the dried flowers on the stalks and I would love to have one for my backyard for a photo prop as I like to photograph birds. I think my neighbor dumped a couple in the alley last year but I didn’t even think to grab them at the time.

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