Enormous agave plant to flower in Cambridge for first time in 57 years

A massive agave plant in Cambridge is to flower for the first time in history after horticultural experts have spent more than half a century looking after it.

Our trainees are measuring our #Agave flower spike on a daily basis. Y’day it grew 12.4cm in 24hrs 😲! Will it be going thru the roof of our Arid House?! #watchthisspace #amazingplants pic.twitter.com/sxRfG5JRV2

— Cam Botanic Garden (@CUBotanicGarden) July 5, 2019

Staff at the University Botanic Garden in Cambridge have been looking after the giant agave – a relative of the plant more famous for being used in the production of Tequila and mezcal – since 1962.

The horticulturalists won’t know exactly what species it is until it flowers.

The latest eruption comes 15 years after an agave plant that is suitable for Tequila production (Agave tequiliana) flowered at the Botanic Garden.

A spokesperson for the centre told the drinks business: “You could probably make something with the agave that is currently flowering, but it wouldn’t be traditional Tequila!”

A flower spike appeared on the plant last month, and is already three metres tall, reports the BBC.

The substantial succulent resembles a giant asparagus spear, and has been growing rapidly, shooting up by just over 12cm in 24 hours at one point last week.

We’re keeping an eye on the flower stem of #Agave heteracantha @CUBotanicGarden. It’s shot up over the weekend, & promises more rapid growth & flower. Will we need to take panes out of the glasshouse roof to let it flower? Watch this space! pic.twitter.com/ViI0fQb9TC

— Sally Petitt (@Sally_Petitt) June 24, 2019

Plans are already under way to remove the glass panels of the Botanic Garden roof to allow the agave to continue its upward trajectory.

Agave plants only flower once before they set seed and die.

Sally Petitt, the Botanic Garden’s head of horticulture, told the BBC: “It’s very exciting for us – it was sitting there quite quietly and then all of a sudden this happened.”

Horticulturalists at the Botanic Garden believe it could take another month before the agave blooms. After the plant dies it can sometimes produce new rosettes at its base.

There are over 200 known species of agave that grow within Mexico, and around 30 to 50 of them are believed to be used to produce mezcal. The dominant species that is used is the A. angustifolia (espadin) species that makes up 90% of mezcal production. However, a spokesperson for the garden confirmed to db this particular plant cannot be used in spirits production.