A rare and special sight can be viewed on the roundabout at London Road and Grange Road in Ramsgate with the blooming of an American Agave plant.
The succulents, sometime known as ‘century plants,’ bloom just once in their lifespan. Sometimes this may be after 20-30 years, while others may take longer.
Once the plant has bloomed it will die.
In 2017 an American Agave bloomed at the Italianate Glasshouse in King George VI Park- its second plant to do so – causing a rise in vistor numbers.
The latest plant on the roundabout is even more unusual in that it is not cultivated. The sculptural succulents cannot withstand frost so are usually grown in containers in conservatories or greenhouses.
Ward councillor Becky Wing says it has been ‘amazing’ to watch the plant come into flower.
She said: “‘It has been amazing to watch the agave plant suddenly flower over the past four weeks and it strange that so few people seem to have noticed it on the London Road, Grange Road roundabout as you come into Ramsgate.
“It must now be several metres high and has flowers appearing. The last time this happened was the agave plant in the Italian Gardens Glasshouse a number of years ago and it attracted interest from all over the country.
“Every day it seems to grow little more so I will certainly be keeping an eye on it.”
Commercially, agaves have long been cultivated for their fibres (sisal) and to make alcoholic drinks, including tequila.
Just watch some prat destroy it!
Maybe didn’t agree with the American President visit in September which is in agreement with King Charles III, which will be a very controversial visit! Who knows!!!
Guarenteed that now you have highlighted it’s location some member of the local braindead brigade will go out and cut it down, given it’s an agave technically you can make tequila fom it so local alcoholics might also be interested
20 to 30 years to flower,same amount of time since all the traffic islands and roundabout were probably last swept.
An apalling approach to a seaside town.
It’s an outrage, isn’t it? I think it’s a disgrace and because of woke that there are plants and flowers on roundabouts. They should all be concreted over and privatised just like how Maggie T would have wanted it. We should all also have to salute a shrine to her every morning.
Yeah, who would want plants and interesting things on roundabouts. I, for one, feel it should be privatised and concreted over