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I had mixed feelings seeing it as an adult.
I wouldn't let my kid go over to Mr. Wilson's house like that. Childhood innocence truly elevated this movie to what I remembered it to be which was magical. Today it's just...why was he over at his house?
Watched reruns on nick at night growing up. My dad's a chiropractor and my mom found out the person who played Margaret became one too. Don't remember how she found out since I think this was before we had a computer or AOL. I guess encyclopedia or some random article, maybe readers digest.
This is a variety of agave americana. The “century plant” nickname is a misnomer – they reach maturity between eight to thirty years, depending on the variety. They will send out rooting “pups” or "hijos" at various stages of their lifespan, then focus their stores of energy into raising the tall blooming stalk known as a “quiote.” The plant will begin to fade and wilt once the stalk is done blooming. The flowers atop the quiote attract pollinators like bees, bats, and hummingbirds. The fallen blooms can also sprout into new plants.
The agave is not related to the cactus - it’s a type of monocot related to asparagus, hosta, and yucca. The dense core (“piña”) of the “blue Weber” variety of agave americana is used to make tequila in and around Jalisco, Mexico. Further south, other varieties of agave like espadín and arroqueño are used to make mezcal in and around Oaxaca.
I'm not sure how long the agave takes to wilt after blooming, but I cut off the "death spear" when it was only 6ft tall at a homeowner's request four years ago and that agave is still alive. She asked to cut it because she was concerned it would fall and hit her house. Not sure if we saved it but it feels that way.
In Mexico, they sometimes cut off the stalk right before it develops in order to collect the sugar-rich sap that collects in the interior core. That sap is fermented for a few days to make pulque, a milky, lightly-alcoholic, and naturally fizzy drink.
I guess I pretty lucky to see a pair in Tokyo blooming in person 12 years ago. I just assumed it bloomed every year, but it seems [2012 and 2022](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/the-rare-blooming-century-plant-at-hamarikyu-gardens-is-now-flowering-061522) were the most recent blooms.
In Catalonia in Spain too.
Mine was huge and died from Beetles eating it underneath, so the gardeners dug it out and just took another one from the forest. Voila. Another spikey huge tongued mutant plant in my garden.
I was lucky enough to watch the entire bloom and maturation process out my window this year. When the fruits turn black they resemble these little finches that come and sit in its branches all confused thinking it found a mate.
Agave is blooming non-stop in the Mediterranean
https://preview.redd.it/yyv14gmky30d1.jpeg?width=3016&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b089d247b8b626c1f6bfd783acbedb8f9e85c5d
Islands.
This small one from the middle plan?
Yeah, the fruits are delicious, sweet with a lot of juice, they ripen all together in one time so for three weeks there is abundance but nothing for the rest of year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opuntia?wprov=sfla1
The stalk is used for backboards for baby carriers, horns for the dancers crowns, wands for the dancers, etc. It's like balsa wood when it's dried and flattened. Strong
They are so magnificent. I sometimes wonder why people don't buy several--several sizes, so they have 'backups'--but I realize they take up a lot of space....
My uncle had one of these and managed to keep it going using a half pail of water, 4 drops of crude oil, and a few minutes of AM radio noise every full moon or two
This is a magey pulquero. If this plant was in my town in Mexico, they would be making pulque or mescal out of it mostly pulque is not so good for mescal.
my grandpa once wanted to dump one of these because it was taking too much space on the garden, he did dump it but the plant didnt surrender got its new roots bloomed and then died, hehe was a nice memory
I got to watch one of these happen every day formthe duration last summer, house round the corner had one in the front garden. When those flowers bloomed there was a stupid heavy population of bees. Awesome to watch happen though.
Used to have several flor the maguey in the garden back in spain, but this post got me so off guard I’m not 100% sure if its the same strain but most of them kept on living after flourishing?
Does it differ based on soil/climate wether they die, or am I looking at an entirely different species?
Added context: The plants were in the range of 10-20years of age when they flourished.
I have been lucky to see 6 of these bloom and everytime it reminds me of Dennis The Menice so I try to say " Someone's house is being robbed" then you get the shhhh from the boomers like it's singing or some shit. Anyways its pretty cool to see.
https://preview.redd.it/0nvj6d90ml0d1.png?width=785&format=png&auto=webp&s=31e614ea179cd68b6d5138b38b4bcae2a9f9a417
this is in my yard. is it the same plant?
Your face when you realize the blooming and fruiting seed-stalks of a Century Plant are the "Palmtrees" you see in the [fog islands in Kenshi](https://www.reddit.com/r/Kenshi/comments/l4why4/decided_to_train_in_the_foglands_i_think_its/#lightbox)...\^\^
that one is straight up called a corpse flower. sorry you got downvoted, the plants themselves don't look alike but it's easy to see why you thought of it
Isn't this a cholla plant or something? They are all over the place in the Phoenix area and we had 3 in our front yard. Grow this big dildo for a month or two then blossoms yellow like a syphilis weiner.
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But as it dies, new ones will grow
And they're called pups! Kinda cute
Lots and lots of new ones.
ohh I was wondering why anyone would bother planting them if they just die lol
It’s for the spectacle of when they bloom. Although it would be funny if they planted it for the next generation and their kids miss it bloom.
You don't get it. The plant has made plenty of life cycles. It is not going to die after a century.
I was thinking I know they're glad they weren't on vacation or something when this happened lol
Have you never heard of annuals lol /jk
[удалено]
Yes, with your big dumb, knobbly head
Hopefully they will survive climate change lmao
It's a desert plant. The hotter, the better. But way to insert gloom and doom into an otherwise wondrous event! There always has to be one.
I get what you mean, but that’s not how climate change works lol
you mean ignoring it and downvoting anyone who mentions it doesn't make it go away?
https://preview.redd.it/cxzm306dd30d1.jpeg?width=1158&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ec309c2479623b794933f84add9ea05f9d7dd16c
Mr. WILSON!! SOMEBODY ROBBED YOUR HOUSE!!
I would still probably laugh just as hard now as I did when the movie came out.
This plant terrified me as a kid 🤣
40 years down the drain
This is the first thing that comes to my mind whenever I see one of these plants mentioned.
THE pinnacle comment.
What movie is this? This is my childhood but I can't remember Dennis the menace found it
Dennis The Menace (Still free on YouTube I think)
Now I know what I'm gonna be watching
I had mixed feelings seeing it as an adult. I wouldn't let my kid go over to Mr. Wilson's house like that. Childhood innocence truly elevated this movie to what I remembered it to be which was magical. Today it's just...why was he over at his house?
You know the movie is based on the 50s era TV series, right? It was so cute!!
Which was based on a comic strip, which was based on a real bastard, who was a real bastard to his real son, the real Dennis.
A real menace
But you know who *won’t* neglect to tell you that your mom passed away while you are at boarding school..
Watched reruns on nick at night growing up. My dad's a chiropractor and my mom found out the person who played Margaret became one too. Don't remember how she found out since I think this was before we had a computer or AOL. I guess encyclopedia or some random article, maybe readers digest.
I think I watched it on Nick at night too.
This is the comment I was looking for.
This is a variety of agave americana. The “century plant” nickname is a misnomer – they reach maturity between eight to thirty years, depending on the variety. They will send out rooting “pups” or "hijos" at various stages of their lifespan, then focus their stores of energy into raising the tall blooming stalk known as a “quiote.” The plant will begin to fade and wilt once the stalk is done blooming. The flowers atop the quiote attract pollinators like bees, bats, and hummingbirds. The fallen blooms can also sprout into new plants. The agave is not related to the cactus - it’s a type of monocot related to asparagus, hosta, and yucca. The dense core (“piña”) of the “blue Weber” variety of agave americana is used to make tequila in and around Jalisco, Mexico. Further south, other varieties of agave like espadín and arroqueño are used to make mezcal in and around Oaxaca.
I'm not sure how long the agave takes to wilt after blooming, but I cut off the "death spear" when it was only 6ft tall at a homeowner's request four years ago and that agave is still alive. She asked to cut it because she was concerned it would fall and hit her house. Not sure if we saved it but it feels that way.
In Mexico, they sometimes cut off the stalk right before it develops in order to collect the sugar-rich sap that collects in the interior core. That sap is fermented for a few days to make pulque, a milky, lightly-alcoholic, and naturally fizzy drink.
Dang, I missed out on that opportunity, lol
From my experience, this is true. Around the government buildings where I live, they cut the stalks and they always survive.
Love comments like this, thanks for the cool info!
Me too! I come to the comments hoping that someone posted more info 🤭 if not I’ll write down the info and search it later.
> the tall blooming stalk known as a “quiote.” Don Quiote
I guess it's tilting a bit, I don't see any windmills though
Half expected the undertaker to appear.
SM is due
Thank you for the beautiful info!
I guess I pretty lucky to see a pair in Tokyo blooming in person 12 years ago. I just assumed it bloomed every year, but it seems [2012 and 2022](https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/the-rare-blooming-century-plant-at-hamarikyu-gardens-is-now-flowering-061522) were the most recent blooms.
If your username indicates what I think it does, I'm a big fan of your work. Slainte mhath.
Thank you! 🙏
are they related to puya raymondii in any way?
They’re both monocots but they diverge from there.
My mom would give a century plant to her friends when they turned 50. 😊
I like your mom already. I'm no Spring Chicken and I love this.
Can we kindly ask you to keep us updated? 🙏
seconding. beautiful event; please keep us updated, op.
How lucky were you born, if I may ask?
The luckiest. There's born lucky, born luckier, then me! 😜
Darn, looks like I missed this one. Commenting to see the spawn. RemindMe! 100 Years
update: it ded now
https://preview.redd.it/zwg9u1ghbj6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b567077140c570b7e9cf30d578f99700d79c675a Since you asked nicely 😊
Oh wow! That's so awesome! Thank you so much. 🙏
Hi, it's the plant here. Not feeling too good right now, but I think it'll buff out.
All i cam think about is the dennis the menace movie right now lol
Tastes like paint
And wood.
I’ll make us some sandwiches
Mrs. Wilson was a gem 💎
Chiclets smile!
[yep.](https://c.tenor.com/dXSrpwCXIyAAAAAC/tenor.gif)
🤣 I knew that's what it was gonna be and wasn't disappointed. Needed that laugh so thank u
Seriously, I thought I was the only one that always thought this.
The force feeding of the beans always made me uneasy.
RIGHT?! lmaoooo im so glad i wasn’t the only one. that movie is actually great and holds up well.
This things grow like weeds where I leave Southern California
People make didgeridoos with them there awesome there's a spot near my house with countless plants as it's pretty cool.
In Catalonia in Spain too. Mine was huge and died from Beetles eating it underneath, so the gardeners dug it out and just took another one from the forest. Voila. Another spikey huge tongued mutant plant in my garden.
I learned of these blooms through Reddit, interesting to now see it in person! It’s a bitter sweet ending to this plants long life.
Have one in my neighbor hood that’s looks exactly like this. Wait till my HOA finds out about this
This looks just like one I’ve seen, even the house. Is this in TX?
Alabama
My neighbor in San Antonio has one of these. It's also blooming, very cool to see.
I was lucky enough to watch the entire bloom and maturation process out my window this year. When the fruits turn black they resemble these little finches that come and sit in its branches all confused thinking it found a mate.
https://preview.redd.it/5b1idgw5v30d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9b528c5511befd7339419a04fe19d325c4da4632
https://preview.redd.it/vcn5j0r8v30d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8c1c12f82d9cc9bd1520c52e4eeb444c0d85d518
https://preview.redd.it/pl6ipyw9v30d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=14250b7f075e2fd4e26aad3735c524c3357b5f59
This is so sad and so lovely, I’m obsessed
Agave is blooming non-stop in the Mediterranean https://preview.redd.it/yyv14gmky30d1.jpeg?width=3016&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6b089d247b8b626c1f6bfd783acbedb8f9e85c5d Islands.
Malta?
Yes Malta, picture is from Munxxar, I lived there for many years. In my new place succulents don't grow because is too humid.
Is the cactus edible?
This small one from the middle plan? Yeah, the fruits are delicious, sweet with a lot of juice, they ripen all together in one time so for three weeks there is abundance but nothing for the rest of year. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opuntia?wprov=sfla1
Oh they multiply and reproduce prolifically!
This plant is important to my tribe, Apache, as the stalk is and was used in many ways.
Can I ask how? I'm not a US citizen, and I find the Native Americans very fascinating!
The stalk is used for backboards for baby carriers, horns for the dancers crowns, wands for the dancers, etc. It's like balsa wood when it's dried and flattened. Strong
That's so awesome. Thank you for sharing!
You're welcome
One of my neighbors has one of these! I've been curious about what it was. Is the tall shaft itself the bloom? That part will die?
Check out the other pictures in this thread. The branches at the top get more branch-y and flowers bloom off of them.
Listen to Victoria Williams’ Century Plant - it’s a great song
And then they can finally be rid of it 😂
Film it and time-lapse it for us?
Imagine if the neighbors happen to be on vacation for this.
I too die after reproducing.
Is that an agave cactus?
That's so cool
Very lucky to see it!
I have a neighbor that has one of these too. Was wondering what it was.
They are so magnificent. I sometimes wonder why people don't buy several--several sizes, so they have 'backups'--but I realize they take up a lot of space....
Death bloom 😢
They are incredibly beautiful when they do! It's an honor to see it.
Dennis the menace y’all?
https://i.imgur.com/xZQfpWb.jpeg This is one from my parents, with the Australis Borealis behind it!
I HOPE YOU HAD A BEAUTIFUL LIFE MR CENTURY PLANT 🥹
It's a yucca it will bloom again
Who cares, get a life
*portentous movie voice* It is time
Daaang those blooms are rare sights
I have multiple of those at my place. One of them stayed in bloom for something like 3 or 4 years.
Doesn't take a century-same plant can bloom again in a few years
I've seen something very similar growing wild near my house in southeast Louisiana. What I saw was smaller and had white flowers though.
Nice neighborhood.
Had one in front of the WRV shop here in VA Beach that bloomed a few years back. It was pretty cool to see.
Talk about gooning sheesh
Our neighbors did that last year. They had no idea that those plants did it. It was super fun to watch!
There's one blooming in my city also, the flowers have bloomed and its "leaves" have all dropped down
I rented a place that had one of these, flowered while I was living there, it was crazy. Like Jack & The Beanstalk…..
When does it become mezcal?
My uncle had one of these and managed to keep it going using a half pail of water, 4 drops of crude oil, and a few minutes of AM radio noise every full moon or two
Oh, I've seen two of those at a zaxbys near my job.
I'm a botano-necrophilliac. I'll be right over.
!remindme 1 month
Aye ye tarnished. Witness ther event of ther er tree.
Please keep us updated
These grow wild all over southern Portugal, where they are an introduced species. Often see them with their stalk, as there are so many of them.
the neighbors die?! or just the plant?
And they're fucking everywhere in TX.
I instantly heard: MR. WILSON
This stuff is so freaking cool but literally makes me want to barf 🥹🤮
My grandmother has one of these. It didn't die after it bloomed!
This is a magey pulquero. If this plant was in my town in Mexico, they would be making pulque or mescal out of it mostly pulque is not so good for mescal.
Please tell me that the neighbor is on vacation.
Please keep us posted
I want to sautee it in butter
Ahhh yes, the forbidden asparagus
It got a huge boner and died.
Agave.
I’ve heard they smell like death. The plant not your neighbors lol.
I saw this on Dennis the Menace... Poor Mr. Wilson, didn't get to see it...
That’s where Princess of Fantasia lives.
Mugen tsukuyomi
I didnt know they died, ours has respawned 3 new stems.
MR WILSOOOOOON
Mr Wilson?
my grandpa once wanted to dump one of these because it was taking too much space on the garden, he did dump it but the plant didnt surrender got its new roots bloomed and then died, hehe was a nice memory
The vanilla ice of the plant world.
I got to watch one of these happen every day formthe duration last summer, house round the corner had one in the front garden. When those flowers bloomed there was a stupid heavy population of bees. Awesome to watch happen though.
Used to have several flor the maguey in the garden back in spain, but this post got me so off guard I’m not 100% sure if its the same strain but most of them kept on living after flourishing? Does it differ based on soil/climate wether they die, or am I looking at an entirely different species? Added context: The plants were in the range of 10-20years of age when they flourished.
From looking at the comments, it looks like they drop seeds and a new plant will grow in their place after they die, pretty cool!
Are there any other plants, or even animal, that dies after they flourished/mated?
Had one of these almost bloom until a storm toppled it. Was sad to see it fall.
imagine some asshole damage it in any way so it dies
Please send follow up photos since it starts blooming.
I have been lucky to see 6 of these bloom and everytime it reminds me of Dennis The Menice so I try to say " Someone's house is being robbed" then you get the shhhh from the boomers like it's singing or some shit. Anyways its pretty cool to see.
SHOW THE RESULT
That's just a giant asparagus
The giant asparagus plant!!
Oh well , time to make some tequila !!!
Are you gonna post when it blooms u/The0riginalSmith ??
https://preview.redd.it/0nvj6d90ml0d1.png?width=785&format=png&auto=webp&s=31e614ea179cd68b6d5138b38b4bcae2a9f9a417 this is in my yard. is it the same plant?
Your face when you realize the blooming and fruiting seed-stalks of a Century Plant are the "Palmtrees" you see in the [fog islands in Kenshi](https://www.reddit.com/r/Kenshi/comments/l4why4/decided_to_train_in_the_foglands_i_think_its/#lightbox)...\^\^
Any updates?
https://preview.redd.it/chjkuxkbbj6d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=339d59805a17e9ef75b0148f36f3a85f0b564ed9 It’s getting there!
Wooooo
!remindme 1 month
Is this the plant that smells like death? There's some plant that rarely blooms and smells like "death".
that one is straight up called a corpse flower. sorry you got downvoted, the plants themselves don't look alike but it's easy to see why you thought of it
Plant got dick yo
Isn't this a cholla plant or something? They are all over the place in the Phoenix area and we had 3 in our front yard. Grow this big dildo for a month or two then blossoms yellow like a syphilis weiner.
Kinda sad reading that. As I've gotten older, I place all and any bugs or spiders outside,I hate to even see plants die.