After many years, (30 to 40, once thought to be up to a century), a flowering spike shoots up several feet from the center of the century plant's rosette. Flowers appear on the ends of lateral branches of this spike. Yellow-green clusters bloom, and then the leafy rosette dies, after flowering only once. The century plant plant is native to Mexico. © Linda Abbott Trapp 2008 : Pictures of Mexico

After many years, (30 to 40, once thought to be up to a century), a flowering spike shoots up several feet from the center of the century plant's rosette. Flowers appear on the ends of lateral branches of this spike. Yellow-green clusters bloom, and then the leafy rosette dies, after flowering only once. The century plant plant is native to Mexico. © Linda Abbott Trapp 2008

Source article: Celosia, century plant and coconut palm: ornamental plants and flowers of tropical Mexico