Haligonians line up for seeds from agave that captured city’s heart

Haligonians lined up in the cold Thursday for a crack at free seeds from a desert plant that briefly thrived outdoors in this North Atlantic city – and became beloved.

READ MORE: Seeds from Halifax’s famous agave up for grabs

The Agave americana drew crowds to the Halifax Public Gardens last summer after being transplanted from a greenhouse in anticipation of its final farewell.

It bloomed and became a social media sensation, with many flocking to the downtown gardens to snap a photo next to the impressive plant.

When it died, staff spent weeks drying out the plant and extracting the ripe seeds.

On Thursday, the gardens distributed about 150 seeds on a first-come, first-served basis.

WATCH: Halifax’s famous agave plant nears its end

1:37 Halifax’s famous agave plant nears its end

People of various ages who were interested in trying to grow their own agave stood in a line that stretched down the block, before organizers posted a handwritten message saying they were out.