Century Plant

Sometimes referred to as a “Century Plant,” its real name is Agave, a relative to the yucca. The theory behind the “Century Plant” was that the it lived for a hundred years, flowered and then died. This is false as far as the time line goes, but the rest is true. When the plant is ready to flower, it sends up a tall shoot from the center of the leaves, which is in turn covered with blossoms. The plant subsequently dies.

This plant was photographed along Hwy. 118 about 15 miles northwest of Fort Davis, Texas.

Fred Paget, photographer