The Reveal: Bland Finale
Parting shot
After months of anticipation tracked by weekly posts, the agave potatorum’s panicles have bloomed … unspectacularly. Last week’s post showed T-shaped stamens protruding from partly opened buds, and I was sure that by this week’s post those buds would have opened fully, displaying the gorgeous yellow-green petals I’d seen on other agaves online. Well, that hasn’t happened, and the blooming bud clump of last week has already begun to dry up. The other branches now look like that first clump did last week, and I’ve abandoned my expectations of a full floral display …
Still tall
I hate feeling disappointed over this, as I’m sure many factors contributed to this plant’s growth pattern, but still … So this is the final post tracking this agave’s progress. Maybe it’s tired of my constant attention and photographing its every move, maybe it’s me who’s tired of those things … but, unless it takes some other dramatic turn I’m going to leave it alone and just enjoy its beauty. Thanks for following this amazing plant with me over the last few months, I hope you’ve enjoyed the trip as much as I have.
Rancho Reubidoux 
Enjoyed indeed! How is the mother plant looking? Is she starting to show signs of an eventual demise?
Mom’s looking a bit desiccated at base level, and I can’t decide if I’m just imagining a too-precarious angle to the stalk; I do think the end’s on its way. She’s lived a good, long life, though, so I’m pleased to have been there!
I didn’t want to jinx your agave’s bloom, but when my potatorum bloomed last year it looked just like your photo — no color, no yellow/green petals. I’ve been searching around to find out if this agave has a male/female difference in flower spikes, and haven’t found mention of that. But I do find a lot of mention of that gorgeous color to the bloom! But then there’s also lots of reference to how variable this particular agave is…
**Sigh** That ship has sailed I’m afraid…
Unfortunate, but true. That’s all there is. You will note that at the base of each flower is a rather large seed pod. If allowed to ripen, each will have several hundred seeds in it, in three triangular shaped sides. The ripe seeds will be stacked in there like Pringles.
These plants are amazing. Imagine, all of that energy to produce tha bloom stalk, flowers, seeds etc., all from stored energy. It stopped taking nurishment from the ground when the bloom stalk started up. That also means that the roots are not very well anchored any more, so you need to consider the plant’s final resting place before the santa ana winds start to blow.
I drove by your place the other day, no mistaking the “R”. It looks extremely nice.
Buck, thanks for your comment, and compliment! I feel fortunate to have witnessed this agave’s final energy surge and flowering. These plants never fail to amaze!