A RARE Mexican plant which flowers only once before dying is now blooming in the Dunster Castle gardens after six years of careful growing.

A sight rarely seen in the UK, the towering furcraea plant will be in flower over the coming weeks and is already attracting visitors following years of patience and specialist horticultural care by the castle’s gardening team.

Native to Mexico and seldom seen flowering in Britain, the striking plant is producing many cream flowers which are already bringing pollinators to the garden.

The impressive display is expected to last several weeks, depending on weather conditions.

In the UK, the plant can live for up to 25 years before flowering and dying, leaving hundreds of small bulbs.

A National Trust spokesperson said: “The furcraea’s successful flowering marks a significant achievement for the garden team and highlights the skill involved in nurturing rare and unusual plants in a changing climate.”

Dunster Castle head gardener James Cordingley said: “We have been growing furcraea for six years at Dunster.

“The plant likes dry and frost-free conditions and we are truly surprised to see the flower shoot, especially after such a wet winter.

“Knowing that it is the first and only flowering for this plant is something very special.

“It is incredibly rewarding to finally see it in bloom and it is not something many people in the UK get the chance to witness.

“We will be collecting bulbs from the plant in due course for the succession.”

The flowering furcraea can be viewed as part of a normal visit to Dunster Castle gardens and is at its most impressive now, while the flower spikes are at their peak.

Visitors are encouraged to allow time to explore the wider garden where planting schemes celebrate both historic and exotic species.