This monster cactus has grown so tall it smashed through the roof of a greenhouse after shooting up to 16ft in a matter of weeks – and is still GROWING.
The Giant Agave, a native Mexican plant, has been growing for 45 years at the Plant Lovers Nursery in Candlesby, Lincolnshire.
Mink and Tim Sumner-Wilson, who run the nursery, have been astounded by its growth having bought it as a tiny plant from a French nursery in 1968.
The towering plant has been nicknamed the ‘Green Giant’ and is expected to reach 25ft by the end of the summer after growing at a rate of two inches every day.
Mink, 70, from Candlesby, said: “We have had the cactus so long it has become part of the family.
“We just didn’t think we would see it flower, which is usually when it grows more and also means it is towards the end of its life, because they can live up to 100 years old.
“I was just talking to someone in nursery when I looked up and saw it was poking through the roof of the greenhouse.
“It must have shot up to 16ft in about three weeks. It’s incredible.
“We have removed the rest of the panel since so it doesn’t get hurt in winds.
“I think it should grow to at least 25ft, it might be 30ft. At the moment it is growing two inches a day.
“It will flower for about two months and grow out like a candelabra but then when it has finished it will take about two to three years to die.
“I am just so pleased to see it reaching this stage.
“We took the nursery on from dad so I think he would be pleased.”
Tim, 73, added: “We didn’t even know if we would see it flower because they can take 100 years to flower.
“It has been amazing to see it. We just realised it had smashed through the roof and couldn’t believe it.
“When I bought in France with Mink’s dad it was about 10 inches tall but as it grew we had to plant it but that was about 30 years ago.”
