Agave plants are incredible, long-living desert succulents famous for producing tequila and sweet syrup. Despite resembling cacti, they are actually part of the lily family. Beyond their famous spirits, they possess many surprising traits, from a suicidal death bloom to an eco-friendly way of breathing.
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While famous for being called century plants because they live for decades, they actually bloom just once in a lifetime, usually between 10 to 30 years, then die immediately after.
- When an agave blooms, it shoots up a massive central stalk (a quiote) that can reach up to 9 to 10 meters in the air. Some stalks grow at an astonishing rate of 6 inches per day.
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To survive harsh arid climates, agaves use a unique photosynthetic pathway where they keep their pores shut during the day to prevent water loss and breathe only at night.
Self-Validating
Toddler-Proof
Janice-Approved
