AGAVE AMERICANA

The agave is originally from Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Mexico.  Its life span is 10 to 30 years, depending on where it is growing.  It dies after blooming for the first time.  Typically, when  blooming it is surrounded by new plants... pups. Tequila is made from the blue agave.

Even in death, it is spectacular.  These pictures are from a cactus garden on the west side of Balboa Park, the area on a bluff above highway 163 just south of the Laurel Street Bridge.