Desert Agave or Century Plant, Agave deserti

Photo of the yellow blossoms of a Desert Agave

Once in its lifetime, a Desert Agave, or Century Plant, sends a solitary stalk into the sky. Sticky yellow flowers emerge from large pods, attracting bees. A field or hillside full of these tall stalks with yellow flowers (they may look something like city traffic signals) is an impressive sight for a few weeks until the pollen is gone and the stalks dry up, fall over, and die. The Desert Agave is a member of the Agave Family or Agavaceae.