A plant at Inverness Botanic Gardens has enjoyed lockdown more than most, taking the opportunity to flower for the first time in 25 years.
The Agave scabra plant’s natural habitat is southwestern Texas and Mexico, but it is also quite happy in the cactus house at the north attraction.
The staff at the spot, which is run by operated by Highland High Life, first noticed that the Agave had started growing in April when they were carrying out routine maintenance.
The plant had been just a few feet tall for the last 25 years, but has taken on a sudden growth and sprouted to more than 15ft in a matter of weeks.
It was growing at a rate of 12 inches every week and a pane of glass had to be removed from the roof of the greenhouse to allow its continued ascent.
Ewan Mackintosh, Inverness Botanic Gardens manager, said: “The Agave scabra is a big plant with thick thorny leaves and usually sits about a metre high by about a metre wide.
“Just after lockdown we noticed it started to grow a shoot which developed really quickly.”
The Agave scabra was planted around 25 years ago from seed by one of the volunteers from the Inverness Cactii Society and has grown into a classic example of the species.
Mr. Mackintosh added: “Flowering is the peak of its existence with all its energy being used to create its flower.
“The plant is quite clever and clones itself to be able to continue its life. It only flowers once in its lifetime and this is a unique opportunity to see it here.”
Inverness Botanic Gardens is open seven days a week from 10am am until 4pm with last entry at 3pm.
