Yucca ID Help

[DCA_Palm_Fan]

Just wondering what everyone else take on what exactly this is:

These are located in Vienna VA, which is just outside of the Capital Beltway, and probably a SOLID 7b. These are not all that uncommon in and around the Washington Metro area though these two are some of the larger ones around at about 16+ feet tall. These two have been here for many years. What you see wrapped around the trunk are rope lights, and I do not think they are there for any sort of protection as they are on even in warm months, at least from what I have seen. Anyway...

I think its a Yucca Rostrata, but a couple people have mentioned that it could be Yucca Rigida. I think it is Rostrata because of the somewhat droopy leaves, and is more green. While its not uncommon to see Y. Rostrata very blue, I think the Y. Rigida are much more often the blue color than not. What do you think it is?

Also, this leads me to a question I have regarding these if anyone here has any experience with them. My question is fairly simple, can these be kept in a container, year round, outdoors, and if they can, can they go unprotected, in a zone 8a/7b? Thanks for any additional info / help with this question.

Ken

[Palmzilla]

They are Native to Texas in Areas that get reallllllly cold so I'm sure you can grow them just fine. They are extremely easy to grow and great additions to the landscape. They grow in pots too really well.

The ones in the pics are Rostrata's

[DCA_Palm_Fan]

Thanks! So you think that this would be good in a pot, even during winter outdoors when the pot is likely to freeze through?

[the flying dutchman]

Thanks! So you think that this would be good in a pot, even during winter outdoors when the pot is likely to freeze through?

A better choice is Yucca Thompsonia, they survived the last 2 terrible winters here and

stay goodlooking also.

Rostrata is borderline in the ground in zone 7 and 8. I don't think it will survive in a pot

in a really cold winter.

Ron...

[the flying dutchman]

Thanks! So you think that this would be good in a pot, even during winter outdoors when the pot is likely to freeze through?

A better choice is Yucca Thompsonia, they survived the last 2 terrible winters here and

stay goodlooking also.

Rostrata is borderline in the ground in zone 7 and 8. I don't think it will survive in a pot

in a really cold winter.

They often get rot in the head too...

Ron...

Edited August 3, 2010 by the flying dutchman

[DCA_Palm_Fan]

Thanks! So you think that this would be good in a pot, even during winter outdoors when the pot is likely to freeze through?

A better choice is Yucca Thompsonia, they survived the last 2 terrible winters here and

stay goodlooking also.

Rostrata is borderline in the ground in zone 7 and 8. I don't think it will survive in a pot

in a really cold winter.

They often get rot in the head too...

Ron...

See this is what I was wondering about. There are quite a few in my area in ground that are just fine, even after some brutal winters. I almost NEVER see any parish that are in ground. I really think they are quite find and hardy in 7b, and I know they are in zone 8 because those things are everywhere. I guess Im more interested in their hardiness in pots. The reasons for that are because I would probably want to take it with me when I leave the DC area, and that there are nurseries here that sell them, and I often see them left out in pots for the entire winter. Most of them come through fine, but some do either get crown rot or just look really haggard.

I do like both Y Rigida and Rostrata though. They are both VERY similar in appearance and growth habit. Just to make sure I have this correct, Y. Rigida is "Thompsonia" correct?

Thanks for the replies!

Ken

[fastfeat]

Not to hijack your thread, but I ran across this specimen in coastal Orange County (CA) that I thought might be the high desert-native Joshua Tree, Y. brevifolia, but maybe it too is a Y. rostrata? Any guesses?

Ken.

[DCA_Palm_Fan]

Hmmmm... I don't think the above is a Joshua Tree. The leaves are too long, and the trunk is a little different. It looks to me more like Y. Rigida (Thompsonia) than anything, but that is because the leaves appear to be more "STIFF". I suppose it could be Rostrata too though, but I really do not think it is a Joshua Tree.