HOUSTON – A northeast Houston woman has a plant that's nearing a once-in-a-lifetime bloom in her yard.
Joan Coleman-Bass has a two-story, green asparagus-like stalk growing near her driveway.
“When I first saw it, I said to my daughter, ‘What is this thing? Should we be fearful or what?’’” Coleman-Bass said.
For more than four decades, her family thought the plant was an Aloe Vera. Turns out, it’s actually an Agave Century. We found several on shelves at Buchanan’s Native Plants store in the Heights. They consider what’s blooming in Coleman-Bass’ yard special.
“(Agave Century plants) bloom once in a lifetime,” Jen Hartsfield of Buchanan’s said. “It’s not a common occurrence (in the Houston area). Once the plant has matured enough, grows 30 feet into the air and it dies after that.”
Forty-six years ago, Coleman-Bass’ dad reluctantly planted an Agave Century near his driveway at his wife’s request.
“(My mom) said (to my dad), ‘You just do what I say, plant it,’” Coleman-Bass said.
She eventually got tired of it. The family had the plant bulldozed, but it grew back. So they had it uprooted.
“But it kept growing, kept growing, it got on my nerves it was growing so big,” Coleman-Bass said.
Her lawn man was ready to try again until Coleman-Bass noticed new growth on the plant last Thursday.
“I text him back and said, ‘Oh no, no, no (don’t cut my plant down),’” Coleman-Bass said. “This is something special.”
One day soon, her Agave Century will bloom, die and leave baby plants behind. For the 70-year-old Coleman-Bass, it’s a blessing too long in disguise.
“I just thank God he has allowed me to be a part to see another one of his miracles,” she said.
