Century plant, check this baby out!

Bernice H
by Bernice H
Saw this in a yard and they let us take a picture of it. I have never seen one this tall. When I first saw it , this spring,it was about 10-12 ft tall, it looked like a big asparagus stalk! The man said they dont just grow every hundred years, but it doesnt happen very often. They will will die, the whole plant, when it is done with its growing at the end of this season. My friend is about 5'6.
My own cactus critter is losing power, beginning t look weak and mushy, so those "chicken hands" will probably just bend over and droop.
I am assuming the same thing will happen to the century plant.
When i first saw this it was upright, like a tall asparagus stalk, now it is getting heavy and old I suppose, I hope to see it when it finally droops and is done. The owner has a cactus garden, all sorts of cacti in bloom in spring.
My cactus, hens and chicks, one post said it looks like chicken hands , and I agree.
  11 answers
  • Z Z on Aug 10, 2012
    Wow that's crazy looking! Quite interesting too. Thanks Bernice.
  • Sharron W Sharron W on Aug 10, 2012
    That's pretty Cool....the plant will die now that it's bloomed....is that correct?
  • Bernice H Bernice H on Aug 10, 2012
    Yes, the whole thing will die. The gardener said attempts have been made to stop the plants from dying by cutting the stalk as it begins, but ...creation knows what it is supposed to do. The plants died anyway.He didnt have any more at this time blooming like this, but he does have many more century plants, so when it is their time...! This has been so interesting. I wish I had gotten pictures of when it started.
  • Z Z on Aug 10, 2012
    Makes you wonder.... why.... right?
  • Susan S Susan S on Aug 10, 2012
    S'cuse me for being a little anal here but is your chicken hands the same thing as the plant in this picture???
  • Bernice H Bernice H on Aug 10, 2012
    mwahahahahaa Susan, beware! Chicken hands is out and loose! Jussttt kidding! No, not the same thing, mine is just chicks and hens, and this is a century plant. Wouldnt that be amazing tho?
  • Susan S Susan S on Aug 10, 2012
    Thx Bernice - I was just a bit CORNfused!! LOL Tells ya what I DON'T know about Century plants & chicken hands!!
  • Bernice H Bernice H on Aug 10, 2012
    Me too! Sometimes I sound like an idjit because I ask so many questions, but who is it that said you dont learn anything when you are doing all the talking. So I dont mind just shutting up and asking even stupid seeming qurestions. In fact one of my favorite lines, is; Is there anything else I should know? It is amazing what then comes out. Especially when learning how to do something new.So I pelted this guy with all sorts of questions. Now, if I could just remember everything I learned..another story!! Good to hear from ya!
  • Z Z on Aug 10, 2012
    In my book there isn't such a thing as a stupid question. If you truly don't know something and want to know it then you have to ask. Though "Here's your sign" came to mind as I wrote that. LOL Guess there are a *some* stupid questions.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Aug 10, 2012
    That is really something, Bernice.
  • Bernice H Bernice H on Aug 10, 2012
    When I first saw it..it was straight up.Over a month ago. About 10-12 ft high? Maybe more.