Agave utahensis

As the name implies Agave utahensis is native to the Southwestern desert of Utah, as well as northern Arizona, southern Nevada and southwestern California, at elevations of 1100-1700 meters. The plant is also known as the century plant, and forms spiny, succulent rosettes up to 40 cm. in height, and 45cm. in diameter. Agave is a perennial, in leaf all year long, and will live on average 10-15 years. Most impressive, is the plants reproductive structure, the plant forms a flowering inflorescence of five to twelve meters in height, and appears in the late spring. The Agave accumulates resources over its lifetime, produces this stalk at a rapid pace, and then dies after flowering. Moths and bats can pollinate the stalk, or the plant can form basal lateral shoots creating colonies.

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