July 23, 2026, approx. 6:50 pm EDT (Courtesy Purdue University)
In West Lafayette, Purdue says a “rare botanical event” – featuring a four-story tall plant – is unfolding on the main campus. The university says it’s been home to a desert-dwelling succulent known as Agave americana, or the century plant, for over thirty years – but the plant only blooms once, followed by seeds and new pups of the mother plant before wilting away, and that “death bloom” began in late April of this year (2026). Purdue says the flowering spike – now over 45-feet tall – can grow 6-8 inches a day. They also say it’s difficult to know how long the bloom will last, but they have a live webcam to watch online directly from the greenhouse, where glass panels have been removed from the roof to give the flower enough room. Here’s a link to read more about the plant’s journey.
