Native Plants

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Wednesday - January 23, 2013
From: Marana, AZ
Region: Southwest
Topic: Cacti and Succulents
Title: Potential longevity of Century Plant bloom stalk from Marana AZ
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
What is the potential longevity of a Century Plant stalk/bloom? I would like to use it in my yard for ornamentation. Will it last for weeks, months or years or decompose relatively quickly?ANSWER:
This must be a popular topic in Arizona this year. Here is a previous Mr. Smarty Plants answer on that very question, this one from Sedona, AZ. Also in that previous answer are several more links, which you should also read. There are several different members of the Agave genus that have the common name "century plant," but we usually choose Agave americana (American century plant) as our example.
From the Image Gallery
More Cacti and Succulents Questions
Use of Century Plant bloom as indoor decoration
December 09, 2008 - Mr. Smarty Pants,
After living in Arizona and now San Antonio, I am in search of a Century Plant Bloom. I cannot have an evergreen because my cats climb them. I would shellac the stalk and blooms a...
view the full question and answer
Loss of agaves to freezing weather in Austin
March 04, 2011 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants:
I live in Austin and lost all my agaves in the subfreezing weather this winter. Around town, I've noticed some agaves that seemed to tolerate the cold just fine and other tha...
view the full question and answer
Central Texas plant to grow in cavity in cedar (Juniperus ashei)
February 27, 2010 - Is there a CenTX native that would be happy in a one-gallon cavity in a Cedar tree? I'd like to disguise an amputated limb. I'd consider a Bromeliad or Staghorn fern, but would prefer a native.
view the full question and answer
Growing Variegated Century Plants in Portugal
February 09, 2011 - Hello Mr. Smarty Plants, I am contacting you from Portugal, because of century plant(Agave americana). I had one of that plants and I collected the seeds, which I planted, but I am quite disappointed ...
view the full question and answer
Propagation of non-native Selenicereus Antonyanus from Warwick RI
March 24, 2012 - I just purchased a Selenicereus Anthonyanus, Rick Rack Cactus unrooted. I have searched on the web of the proper way to root the plant and have had no luck except it says easy rooting but not how to r...
view the full question and answer
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