Century plants know how to make out. From the asparagus family, it can live up to 40 years, growing tall, eight meters long spikes and bursting triumphantly into flowers before dying, spreading seeds. There are metaphors everywhere.
At Coleton Fishacre, a 1920s National Trust property in Devon, this century plant was planted 25 years ago, when part of the garden – along with other southern hemisphere exotics – was rebuilt. But at the end of the summer, one thing began to change: it began to grow flower spikes.
“At first, when we saw it growing, we thought it was another leaf, because the rosette of leaves grew from the center and opened. But then it started growing in the north,” said gardener James Grainger. “We knew right away it was going to blossom.”
The flower buds are now the size of a fist, Grainger said
Lauren Hutchinson/National Trust
Flower spikes continue to grow through the summer, with Grainger and his team not sure if the plants will bloom this year or last. After slowing down in winter, growth started again this spring, with spikes now six meters tall, with buds the size of fists.
“Before it starts blooming, it’s like a giant asparagus,” Grainger said. “We’ve had a few questions about what the ‘asparagus-like plant’ is in the garden. It’s quite interesting. And, because it only flowers once and the plant in the garden is about 25 years old, it’s something we’ve never seen before.
The century plant, also known as Agave americana, is native to North America and Mexico, and is sometimes grown as a tender exotic in England. This, however, does not often reach full maturity, said Grainger, because we are wet, cold winter can be a “problem” for plant growth.
The plant is now six meters tall, and “looks like a tree”
Lauren Hutchinson/National Trust
“The plant itself has very thick, fleshy leaves with barbed edges. The architecture, they are beautiful,” said Grainger. “This plant is about one and a half meters tall, and the same diameter, but the flower spikes can reach eight meters, so it actually looks like a tree. It is quite dramatic in the landscape.
At the age of 25, the plant spike is not entirely unexpected. Buds usually grow between 20 and 40 years, when the plant is mature, although it may be triggered by climatic conditions. “The name century plant is a bit of a misnomer, because it’s not common for a plant to live for 100 years. It’s more of a reference that it takes a long time before flowering, and when it’s done, it’s the end of life.
The flower, when it blooms, will be a tube, growing up in a bright yellow cluster. “It’s hard to describe,” said Grainger. “It’s a yellow flower on the main stem. It’s going to look like a big dark green stem and this acid yellow flower will pop up.
When the plant blooms, the flowers will be yellow and tubular
Puchku/Wikipedia Commons
The flowers should bloom soon — Grainger expects July — and are expected to attract visitors. “Many visitors last year and this year asked when it will bloom. I have been penciling in repeated visits. I am sure that when it has blossomed, we will have many people taking photos.
The flowers will last through the summer, spreading their seeds, before the parent plant dies.
“It’s bittersweet: you have this beautiful plant that has been the main feature of the border for so long. Now, it has reached its zenith – reaching the goal of life to flower and produce the next generation of plants,” said Grainger. “When we lose native plants, the next generation of century plants will grow from those seeds. It’s a life cycle.”
How to visit Coleton Fishacre
Coleton Fishacre was built in 1925 for Rupert D’Oyly Carte and his wife Dorothy.
Lauren Hutchinson/National Trust
Coleton Fishacre was built in 1925 for the impresario Rupert D’Oyly Carte and his wife Dorothy, who spotted the valley, near Kingswear, while sailing and decided that it would be the perfect place to live. Designed by Oswald Milne, the house was intended to sit in harmony with its surroundings.
It is built in Arts & Crafts style, with Art Deco touches, and offers visitors the opportunity to “travel back in time to the Jazz Age”, as well as experience its RHS-accredited park.
The house and garden are open every day from 10.30 to 17.00 in June, July and August. Entry is £15 for adults, £7.50 for children and free for National Trust members.
The house is accessible by car, foot or bicycle. The nearest station is Kingswear, which is 2.25 miles away on foot. For more information, visit the National Trust website.
