15 foot plant turns heads in Roanoke City neighborhood

What has grayish green leaves, grows at least 15 feet tall and blooms only once then dies?
   
If you don’t know the answer, neither did Bill Minter until he bought the house and moved in.

“It looks like something you’d see out west,” Minter said.

“Somebody told me that it looked like Dr. Seuss’ truffula tree from Lorax,” said the homeowner’s mother, Debbie Minter.
   
It’s somewhat of a yard ornament that’s creating quite a stir in the neighborhood.

“People have slowed down and just done the rubber necking out the window,” Debbie said.

“I’ve had people leave me notes and stop by and call,” explained Bill.
 
If you’re still wondering what it is, it’s a Century Plant, and it just started blooming this week.

“Monday morning the yellow started popping out at the bottom it’s just gradually going up.  It will probably bloom for about another week or so,” said Debbie.

The homeowner says the plants came with the house and they were brought to Roanoke from out west by the previous homeowner in the 70s.
   
He has five more planted in his yard, but they’re not as impressive.
   
Neighbor, Orren Racks, sits outside under his umbrella quite a bit and has noticed all the traffic and that’s not the only thing growing.

“I have noticed almost daily that I can see it just gets a little bit taller and taller and now it’s just really, really big,” Racks said.
   
Some Century Plants grow as high as 40 feet before dying.