End of an Agave

It’s the beginning of the end for a well-known succulent at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, but before the plant dies it is going to go out with a BIG bloom instead of a bang.

The Agave ovatifolia, also known as a frosty blue succulent, is a sight to see. Standing at more than 14 feet tall with greenish-yellow flowers blooming from it, the stunning stage for the plant technically means it is on its deathbed. There is limited time left to see this happen.

What is a Death Bloom?

Death bloom is when a plant dies after it has bloomed and produced seeds. The agave takes anywhere from 10 to 15 years to bloom. When the time is right, the agave plant does not disappoint.

Timing Is Everything

The last one began in June 2024, it sprouted a 14-foot stem. ByJuly 2024, the flowers began to open. And by August 2024 it was gone.

Another Agave starting its Death Bloom: June 2026.

We will keep you updated with its bloom progress here and hope that you get a chance to experience it!

June 5, 2026: Just a tiny nub you can see spiking at the top of the plant.

June 11, 2026: The Agave ovatifolia ‘Frosty Blue’ bloom snapped off this morning. The bloom was healthy and just got too heavy as it extended outward. While Agave ovatifolia ‘Frosty Blue’ looks great right now, it will not sprout a new bloom and begin to senesce over the next 12 to 18 weeks.

Bye-Bye Blues

“While fascinating and beautiful, death for this 10-year-old plant is imminent,” according to the Horticulture team at the Botanical Garden. “Agave are monocarpic, meaning they flower and produce seeds only once, and then die. Hence the name.”

There are many beautiful desert plants in the Botanical Garden still to enjoy, but this is something not be missed.

Aggie’s Bloom from 2024

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