While the city gardener was starting to lose faith that it would ever bloom, little yellow flowers have budded on Halifax's famous agave plant.

Within the next couple of days, the plant — affectionately dubbed Agave Maria —&nbsp;will be in full bloom in the Public Gardens.

, commonly known as the century plant,&nbsp;grows a huge asparagus-like stalk that flowers once in a 25-year lifespan before the plant dies.

Agave plant at Halifax Public Gardens may never bloom

The succulent, which is usually found in the desert, only blooms once in its lifespan.

Heidi Boutilier, a horticulturalist for Halifax, said the lower leaves of the plant started dying back. She said that indicated the mother plant was starting to go. 

Public gardens agave plant

A closer look at the brown leaves of the agave plant at the Public Gardens.

agave halifax

Halifax's massive century plant stops growing because it's too cold

The Halifax Public Garden's massive blooming century plant is protesting Nova Scotia's 'spring' weather by refusing to grow, so gardeners have wrapped it up to keep it warm.

Wrapped Agave plant

It's too cold for the large Agave americana, which moved outdoors last week. 

Century plant's surprise flower quickly outgrows Public Gardens greenhouse

A massive plant that can be used to make a popular Mexican liquor surprised horticulturists at the Halifax Public Gardens recently by shooting out a flowering stalk that quickly made it too large to fit inside the greenhouse.

Heidi Boutilier says she has never seen an agave flower.

agave

Horticulturalist Heidi Boutilier says she has never seen an agave flower.

This spring, the plant was moved outdoors because it was 

In May, Heidi Boutilier, a horticulturalist with the municipality, said 

she suspected cold weather may have killed the plant before it had the chance to flower

After the agave blooms, the plant will die. 

Agave Halifax

But people were flocking to the gardens to get a glimpse of the new buds on Thursday.

"It is absolutely amazing," said Paula Blades, who was visiting Halifax from Cape Breton. "I've been following it online. But seeing it up close, in person, is pretty amazing."

Small yellow buds are emerging on Halifax's agave plant. 

Agave plant blooming

The agave plant in Halifax's Public Gardens was budding on Aug. 2 and will be in full bloom within days. 

Little yellow flowers signal resurgence for Halifax's famed agave plant

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