Elizabeth Anne VanderPutten - Agave Century Plant, Sedona

Agaves in Bloom - The Century Plant

This Southwestern member of the Amaryllis Family is a smaller version of the Mexican variety (Agavi americana) which grows up to 40 feet high and is used to produce tequila, pulque and mescal. This variety grows 10 to 14 feet.

The agaves I saw all around Sedona had red flowers. According to a book on Southwestern flowers, they more typically have yellow blossoms. Agaves spend their long lives (though not a century) preparing to bloom. Then they blossom once and die.

June 10, 1998

Agaves - Century Plant

This is a typical agave plant found in many parts of New Mexico, Arizona and California.

Southwestern hotels and motels often include them in their landscaping.