An agave grows in Boston

The Boston Globe had a story and pictures this morning (only accessible for two days, unfortunately) of a rare event - a blue agave sending up a blooming stalk from a greenhouse attached to a Beacon Hill townhouse.

Blue agaves are common in Mexico, where the heart of the plant is used to make tequila. The plants send up flowering stalks at the end of their long life, and the flowers are pollinated by bats. But it is rare for an agave to blossom in captivity.

In 2001, another species of agave sent a flowering stalk through the greenhouse ceiling at Cambridge University Botanic Garden in England.

A team from the Arnold Arboretum came to view the plant last month, and said it was in exceptional health.

Here's a closeup of the buds, which will flower in the next few weeks.

Comments

[Kasmira]

Really neat! Thanks for sharing.