Century Plants on Virgin Gorda, British Virgin islands. The Century plant is one of the numerous plants of the genus Agave, which are native to hot and dry regions of the World, including the Caribbean region. They have sword-shaped spiny leaves. Agaves / Century plants are grown for their ornamental use and occasionally for food. See also a photo of Century Plants growing wild on Antigua's Devil's Bridge.

The Century Plant was named as it was thought they only flowered once every hundred years and then died after flowering; however, recent evidence has shown that the flowering usually takes place on average after 28 years and the Century Plant is unlikely to live more than 50 years. They are a firm favourite of the Hummingbird (image) which feeds on the nectar of the flowers.