The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden’s Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden is home to the now 15 feet tall Agave victoriae-reginae plant that will only bloom once for 2-4 weeks in its entire 10-50 year lifetime. This specifically impressive Agave plant is approximately 20 years old and is currently starting to open up. It is expected to flower at the Dallas Arboretum for only 2-4 more weeks.
Native to the Sierra Madre mountain range of Chihuahua, Mexico, the Agave victoriae-reginae plant is endangered in its native and current habitat due to over-harvesting. Named for Queen Victoria of England, the Agave prefers full sun to very light shade, well-drained soil and very little water.
Beneath its towering 15-foot flower spike, the Agave’s leaves are rigid and dark green. The Dallas Arboretum Agave shows off-white blooms peeking through, although flower color varies from plant to plant.
Dallas Arboretum horticulture manager Kevin Wiley said, “Our Agave has just seen its first blooms, and it will only flower for 2-4 weeks. It will then die and the stalk will fall over. We encourage you to come to the Children’s Adventure Garden and see this exciting plant in bloom, stand next to it and treasure it with us while we can!”
To learn more about the unique Agave plant from Dallas Arboretum horticulture manager Kevin Wiley, watch this video featuring the garden’s exciting plant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCdIJh7oYWA
The Agave victoriae-reginae will be in full bloom during WFAA’s Family First Day on June 13 in the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. Puppet shows, hands-on outdoor science experiments, fruit tastings in our Incredible Edible Garden, and scenes from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (with the Dallas Junior Players) round out a family-centered day anchored by a special presentation with WFAA Meteorologist Greg Fields at the OmniGlobe at 1 p.m. For this day, admission to the RMCAG and main garden is only $8 at the gate with $8 parking available for advance purchase online. Hot dogs are just $2.
About the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden:
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is located on the southeastern shore of White Rock Lake at 8525 Garland Road, Dallas, Texas 75218. The Dallas Arboretum is also the home of the internationally acclaimed Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. It is open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular general admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for children 3-12 and free for Arboretum members and children two and under. See website for special discounts. There is an additional cost of $3 per person for entrance into the Rory Meyers Children’s Adventure Garden. On-site parking is $15; pre-purchased online parking is $8. The Dallas Morning News is the principal partner of the Dallas Arboretum. The Arboretum is supported, in part, by funds from the Dallas Park and Recreation Department. WFAA is an official media sponsor for the Dallas Arboretum. For more information, call 214.515.6500 or visit www.dallasarboretum.org.
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