Tenby's Giltar Hotel is about to witness the blooming of its agave plant - a rare event known as the 'death flower'

Tenby's Giltar Hotel is about to witness the blooming of its agave plant, a rare event known as the 'death flower', captivating floral experts and visitors alike.
Tenby’s Giltar Hotel is no stranger to big ‘in bloom’ awards - but now the seafront accommodation has something even bigger on its hands - which has been described as a ‘natural phenomenon’ by floral experts.
The gardens of the hotel which sits on the Esplanade, overlooking South Beach is seeing its agave plant [also known as the death flower] reaching up as far into the sky as the establishment’s gardening team could ever imagine - towering over the sands below!
The plant sends up a spike-like stem that will bloom - a natural phenomenon known as the ‘death bloom’. But alas, as is the nature of the plant, and as its nickname suggests, after it put its heart and soul into its bloom, it will begin to die - but hopefully not before putting on a blooming great display!
Now the wait appears to be almost over, as the agave has started to flower this month, with a lot of hard work over many years about to pay off.
The Giltar’s head gardener, Simon Rowlands, who picked up another Wales in Bloom award last year on behalf of the premises, for ‘best Hotel with a Frontage display’ gave some insight into the history of the plant.
“Many years ago we planted a little tiny agave, that was in the 1990s, so it’s got to be nearly 30 years old now,” he said.
“Now, it’s absolutely huge. It’s called the death flower, because once it flowers, the plant will die.”
Saundersfoot in Bloom volunteer Julie Davies who has been following the plant’s progress at the Giltar’s ‘fabulous gardens’ said: “A natural phenomenon - they flower only once in their lifetime. Still hasn't quite flowered yet but the spike is reaching for the stars!
“Saundersfoot in Bloom are on ‘bloomwatch’ and along with many others can't wait to see the blooming unfold!”