Agaves are iconic plants of the southwest that are symmetrically beautiful and add architectural interest to any spot. Eventually, they send up an impressive, fast-growing flower stalk that can soar anywhere from 10 to 40 feet into the sky. What happens next? Should you cut the flower stalk off? Does this mean your plant will die? Is there anything you can do to stop it?
Let’s take a look at what’s happening when your agave goes to bloom and answer some frequently asked questions about this unique phenomenon.
Why Do Agaves Send Up a Stalk?
Agave is a genus of plants that encompasses around 225 species. Nearly all agaves are monocarpic, meaning they flower once and then die.
The flower stalks are an amazing sight. They start out looking like a large asparagus stalk and grow so fast — up to one foot per day — that you can literally see the difference overnight!
Some species are dioecious — there are separate male and female plants. The male flower stalks release pollen while the female stalks have flowers and eventually seeds.
Agaves send up tall flower stalks as a reproductive advantage. They attract more pollinators and enable plants to put out more seeds to increase the likelihood that their offspring will live on.
Some species, like octopus agave (Agave vilmoriniana), have flower stalks that are covered with thousands of miniature clones called bulbils. If you have an octopus agave that’s blooming, you can keep some of the mini-plants to replace the parent plant and have fun giving the rest away.
Can I Stop My Agave From Dying by Cutting the Stalk?
Sorry, but no.
There’s a myth that if you cut the stalk as soon as it appears, you can stop the process and save your plant, but this is not true. Changes in the agave’s environment and hormones have set the plant’s demise in motion — there is nothing you can do to stop it.
Some gardeners think they’ve outsmarted nature because their plant seemingly lives on, but it can take a long time, sometimes even a few years, for the plant to completely succumb.
Pro Tip!
Don’t buy the biggest agave you can find.
Bigger means it will reach the end of its life faster.
When Should You Cut an Agave Stalk?
Should you cut the stalk as soon as it appears? Or should you let it grow to its full size before you cut it? While I lean towards letting it grow, there are some good reasons for both choices.
Reasons to Cut Now
Depending on the species, some stalks get HUGE and you may be concerned that you won’t be able to handle it after it dies. Before you decide whether to leave it grow or cut it, find out how tall the stalk of your plant is likely to get.
Some species send up 40 foot stalks. This might be more than you want to deal with.
If the stalk is growing close to your house, parked cars, or leaning precariously, it makes sense to cut it before it falls and does damage.
In that case, you might want to cut the stalk sooner than later. Talk to your landscaper, handyman, or whoever will be in charge of cutting it down to see what would be involved in having it removed both before and after it blooms. You don’t want to be surprised by a big bill if you choose the latter.
Reasons to Cut it Later
When possible, I suggest you let it proceed through its natural life cycle, and then cut it down.
You’ll almost certainly marvel at its spectacular floral display which attracts hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and other important pollinators.
The whole process usually takes a few months and then you probably should cut it down after the flowers have died, unless it’s in a little-used area of your yard. If you don’t cut it, it will eventually fall over.
Most stalks reach heights of about 10 to 15 feet and can be cut with a hand saw.
Uses for the Stalk
You should have no trouble finding someone who will want the stalks, and you may even find someone to cut it down for you in exchange. Many people have creative uses for these stalks, especially the branched, candelabra type. I’ve seen them used as bird perches, yard art, a place to string outdoor lights, and even as southwest-themed Christmas trees.
But My Agave Has Bloomed More Than Once
Some people will insist their agave has bloomed more than once, but here are the more likely explanations.
Most likely, their plant is not an agave. There are other desert plants that look like agaves that bloom more than once, namely yuccas, aloes, and dasylirions.
Or it’s possible that the original parent plant has died, but put out offsets, and now one of the next generation’s plants is blooming.
Recommended Reading:
Agave or Aloe? How to Tell the Difference
Agave or Yucca? How to Tell The Difference
Isn’t it Too Soon For My Agave to Die?
One iconic agave that most people have heard of, even those who don’t live in the southwest, is the century plant (Agave americana). They are rumored to live 100 years, but the name is misleading since they only live 25 years or so.
And the name also leads people to believe that all agaves are exceptionally long-lived, which is not remotely true. Some species, like smooth agave (Agave desmetiana), only live for around 7 years. And your plant was probably a few years old when you bought it.
While it’s always sad to lose a beautiful plant, know that losing your agave is all part of its normal life cycle. Try to enjoy the spectacular event unfolding before you.
And its loss means you get to buy a new plant. 😉
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Author Bio
Deane Alban is the creator of Southwest Gardener. She is a science writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany from the University of South Florida. Gardening is her lifelong passion. She’s been gardening in Tucson for over 15 years.
Photo Credits
Valerio B. Cosentino, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Centennial Museum and Chihuahuan Gardens
Coconino National Forest, CC BY 2.0, Wikipedia Commons