There are a variety of subspecies of Agave americana in South Africa, commonly known as century plant or American aloe (even though it bears no relation to our indigenous aloe species). These interesting (and to me rather pre-historic looking) plants are featured in some large gardens where there is space to admire their erect leaves and their tall flowering poles. They were introduced to South Africa during the 1960s and are now listed in the Western Cape as being invasive. This plant with the stripy leaves is growing along our street in an area where a neighbour used to toss out his garden waste. It will doubtless spread from there as I can see small plants appearing on the left of this photograph.
Some subspecies of agave have been planted along road verges to beautify the entrances to towns, such as ours, for they are drought-resistant and survive happily in full sun. I focused on the Agave attenuata in 2019: https://somethingovertea.wordpress.com/2019/06/16/agave-attenuata/
Most commonly, agave flowers are similar to this one in structure and are pollinated by bees, birds and bats. These flowers are filled with visiting bees.
While driving through the Eastern Cape one see evidence of stands of agave which might originally have been planted as cattle kraal hedges. The sturdy flowering poles have even been used as fence posts in some areas. A very different agave has been planted at the end of our street, where the plants are cared for by some of the local residents.
Something Over Tea 
Such sculptural plants
LikeLike
One would need a LOT of space in which to grow them 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Indeed
LikeLike
What interesting shapes!
LikeLike
They do have a variety of interesting shapes of both leaves and flowers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to have two huge Century Plants but after being stabbed more times than I care to remember when pruning time came around I opted to remove them
And the sap burns!
Besides, as far as my gardening goes, I’m getting too long in the tooth for too many sharp prickly things and those Century Plants could sometimes be lethal!
LikeLike
I had no idea that the sap burns – something worth remembering, not that I intend cutting any such leaves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Leaves a rash for a short while.
Not much fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Texans short of traditional ‘Christmas trees’ in the landscape have often turned to those tall agave stalks for seasonal decorations in the churches. And of course certain agaves can be distilled into sotol or tequila: both of which add to holiday festivities in their own way.
LikeLike
It is fairly common here too to paint the agave stalks white and use them as Christmas decorations – thank you for including a link to your illustration. There was a time when tequila of a sort was produced in the Karoo, but I don’t know if this is still a going concern.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such an important plant. I saw it in so many countries, it grows here in the US in the Southern states as well.
LikeLike
I think they originate in Mexico.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve always enjoyed the American Aloe. You often see them here at the entrances to homes. The agave flowers you feature are very impressive.
LikeLike
They seem to be favoured as a kind of architectural plant.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very striking but unusual plant. Invasive but they have a lot of uses.
LikeLike
They can be very useful plants – even though my garden is large, I don’t have space for them though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very useful landscape in your climate, I imagine. Love how the bees are swarming that bloom stalk!
LikeLike
I was pleased that my cell phone could pick up the bees – there were dozens of them.
LikeLike
A great shot of the plant with all the bees.
LikeLike
Thank you. Should anyone need proof of their power to produce nectar, this would do 🙂
LikeLike
When designing my new backyard landscape, I thought agaves might be good to include because of their drought tolerance, and because they are beautiful. But the landscape designer who helped me knew better. She wisely advised me against those, and several other ideas I had for things that need more space. I’m surprised that I don’t see them more in California in city landscapes.
LikeLike
Some of these agaves spread through suckers. I am sure you are pleased in retrospect not to have planted any in your garden – they require ever more space as they mature.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My, what an unusual collection you have here Anne. You have a lot of plants on your property.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fortunately, Linda, none of these are growing in our garden – all are in our neighbourhood though 🙂 Even though I have a big garden, these plants are too large for it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The flowers look distinctive and so lovely.
LikeLike
They are, yet the plants themselves are too large for an average garden.
LikeLiked by 1 person