Agave americana in flower in Hastings

[khaskings]

There are 2 agave americana's with very impressive flower spikes in a council flower bed on Hastings seafront. They are flowering symmetrically but separately about 40 - 50ft apart and the flower spikes must be 15ft tall.

Yes, I do have photos but they are on a camera which requires an xD card reader or specific USB lead, neither of which I will have access to until the weekend.

If you're not local they are near the Net Houses and fishing boats end of the prom. I'm not familiar with Hastings so hope it makes sense if you visit.

Pictures to follow.

Mike.

[Leigh]

Seems to be a few of these about that are flowering, see one myself on my travels the other day and there was one in the paper that had flowered, think they kick the bucket once they do

[Darlo Mark]

yes they are monocarpic which means they die after flowering but there should be plenty of offshoots to carry on the campaign! They are called century plants because of the time it takes to flower but it can happen when about 20 years old.

[smurnan]

I saw one with a flower spike about 18' tall in the front garden of a terraced house in Portreath last week. I hope the owners have kept a few offsets.

[khaskings]

Here are the Hastings Agave photos.

[Dave Brown]

It's not an Agave americana Mike They have long leaves ending in a terminal spike. It looks like that one has been really badly damaged by the winter or the council.

[bobbyd44]

they probably chopped them off for health and safety

[tenchy]

i saw something like that when we were on holiday in spain. wish id taken some pics of it now. as im sure you guys would have loved it.

[khaskings]

Here's the actual plant. Heavily cut back.

[Essex Ross]

In a way you could say that its good the agave has flowered, it just looks vandalised, which is a real shame.

[redsquirrel]

could you imagine the claim if a kid took an eye out on it? dont bear thinking about.
bit of a silly place to plant it really,roundabouts etc where people shouldnt be is fine

[Dave Brown]

My view it that people need to take care of themselves and their kids.

I think it strange that they have cut the leaves back in the middle of the bed, but then allowed terminal spikes at eye level over the grass . I must admit I take the tips off the terminal spikes as they can be difficult to see if pointing straight at you.

[redsquirrel]

i share the same view Dave but kids are kids and unfortunately the wheres theres a blame has ruined a lot of society

[Nathan]

Maybe the ends were chopped off because they were damaged from the winter?

[stephenprudence]

In my opinion it's unlikely to be cold damage as there are Agave americanas (big ones), in my town that we're totally undamaged by the winter, and it is unlikely that Hastings got colder temperatures/more frost than here this winter.

It's probably just years of wind damage, abuse, basically not being looked after.

Well either that or it's not an Agave americana