Goodbye: Century plant at WRAL to be removed next week; visitors welcome to say farewells this weekend

After months of drawing excited crowds and acting as the backdrop for hundreds of photos, the century plant in the WRAL Azalea Garden is finally seeing its final farewells.

Planted in 2016, our Agave Ovatilfolia flew under the radar for years, with many people having no idea it would eventually sprout more than 20 feet into the air and bloom into a spectacle of fluffy yellow flowers, attracting birds and bees for miles around. Not only did the sudden, unexpected growth spurt create a wondrous and rare surprise for many WRAL News employees, it also drew hundreds of visitors.

Together, the community watched the day-by-day growth of the unique plant – marveling at each unusual change, wondering together how tall it would grow. And now, the community is coming together to say goodbye.

"It's been touching to watch the plant really bring the Raleigh community together, all watching its changes excitedly," said Nancy Alexander, a regular WRAL viewer who enjoyed visiting the plant with her family several times.

When will the century plant be removed?

For the safety of visitors, the century plant will be removed on Aug. 17 before it can decay enough to become at-risk of falling over. It will be removed by Parkers Landcscaping Crew.

When can I come say goodbye?

If you want to come get a final photo with the century plant, this weekend is a good time to come see its final stages of life.

Are we going to replant any seeds from this century plant?

Corporate Estate Gardener Ken Sandy saved seeds from the existing agave, and he said he's going to try and germinate them.

Will there be another century plant in the WRAL Azalea Garden?

Good news: Yes!

Another plant has been ordered from the same place as the original century plant: Plant Delights Nursery at the Juniper Level Botanic Garden.

Will the new century plant be even bigger?

It'll be a surprise! It may be bigger or smaller. It may be the same species or a different one. Juniper Level Botanic Garden had several blooming agave plants this year, and they have some century plants that are significantly bigger than the one here at WRAL News. We'll keep you updated on our new plant when it arrives!

When will the new century plant arrive?

The projected planting date is somewhere between Sept. 1 and 8. We are still working to schedule with the nursery and landscaping crew.

What makes a century plant so rare and unique?

In the wild, a century plant can bloom once every hundred years – then wither and die. The marvel of seeing a century plant in full bloom, with towering 20-foot stalks and leaves, is something some people only see once in a lifetime. It looks like something out of a Jurassic Park movie.

Our plant more than quadrupled in size over the course of its blooming.

Just a few decades ago, humans were not even aware that the particular species planted in the WRAL Azalea Garden even existed.

"You'll be able to watch an absolute explosion of nature," said Tony Avent at Plant Delights Nursery. "It's so full of nectar. Bees will come from all over the neighborhood. If we've got hummingbirds out, the hummingbirds will be there. The ants will be all over because it's like pure sugar water."

The blooming of a century plant is a rare enough sight that people often travel in order to see them. Several years ago when one bloomed on the NC coast, people made the pilgrimage to pose next to it for photos.

We have three stories following the growth of the century plant at WRAL News, as well as a livestream where viewers could watch its progress.

Podcast: Listen to our local century plant enthusiast share the plant's story

When the plant was in its height of growth and popularity, WRAL's Hidden History reporter Heather Leah held 'unofficial tours' with visitors in the garden, explaining the fascinating history and tidbits about the plant. She enjoyed taking photos with visitors and sharing her enthusiasm for the century plant.

Now, you can listen to her talk about the plant's history, as well as what it's meant to the community.