Agave (Agave horrida)

Acton, CA(Zone 8b)

Agave
Agave horrida


flower stalk in seed with bulbils at top, late August, southern California

Thumbnail by palmbob
South East, United Kingdom(Zone 8a)

palmbob, is that normal to form bulbils on the top of the flowering stem?
If so does it happen with other Agaves or just Horrida?
thanks
Pete

Acton, CA(Zone 8b)

No clue... only species I've seen do that so far.

South East, United Kingdom(Zone 8a)

So its probably a pretty rare occurance then.
So what happens next? Do they fall off at some stage or wait for the flowering stalk to fall over, One things for sure, they're not going to grow on up there, are they?

Acton, CA(Zone 8b)

No... not sure what the botanical gardens does with all their bulbils. I sure hope they remove them and propogate them... what a waste otherwise. Some of the Agaves growing in this garden have literally thousands of bulbils all along the flower stalk.. sure most of those end up in the mulch bin.

South East, United Kingdom(Zone 8a)

It does seem a waste I must admit, but pesumably the plant puts out a lot of pups from the base in its lifetime, add to that all that seed and if you grew it all on you'd have thousands.

Acton, CA(Zone 8b)

Actually, this species doesn't pup well... if at all

South East, United Kingdom(Zone 8a)

Ah, I didn't realise that, could be a good one for a pot then,as thats more or less the only way I can grow them.
When you pot grow ,I find the pups more of a problem than a help.

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