Yucca aloifolia "Purple"

[Palm crazy]

This is a very cool Yucca that has soft leaves and no sharp points at the end, my kind of yucca.

Anyone else have one of these and how do you like it. Any growing suggestion?

[Palm crazy]

Another one on Flicker..... http://www.flickr.co...@N03/7359144962

This is a nice one too.

A more mature one, I don't think they are as hardy as the tag says....z5?

Edited September 5, 2012 by Palm crazy

[Gonzer]

Without a doubt those are some fine lookin' Yuccas. In fact at first glance you might assume they were bromeliads. Very gnarly!......dude.

[George Sparkman]

Nice plants.

I wonder what would happen to the color in full sun.

[Palm crazy]

My feeling is this is the same plant as Yucca A. Blue boy.

[Palm crazy]

George in full sun they are more purple, but in winter they are more red in full sun. I have a feeling these may only be hardy down to z8, maybe z7 if dry?

They're the 'biggest gotta have plant' right now in the PNW since they are a good substitute for phormium and cordylines.

Edited September 5, 2012 by Palm crazy

[John Case]

Sure looks like a cordyline....

[Palm crazy]

Sure looks like a cordyline....

Bepah, the leaves are very thick and soft like a succulent. They break off real easy.

[Stevetoad]

Those are really nice looking!

[fastfeat]

I doubt that this is a colorform of Yucca aloifolia, which has sharp-pointed foliage. May be some hybrid that has some Y. aloifolia in it though. Nice color; haven't seen it in SoCal.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Y. aloifolia is native here. The common name is "Spanish Bayonet" for good reason, it is pointy as heck. And pretty much all green. These don't look anything like the straight species but I guess it might be a cultivar.

[John Case]

Sure looks like a cordyline....

Bepah, the leaves are very thick and soft like a succulent. They break off real easy.

The picture cannot duplicate the plant...I was only commenting on the look, not the feel...I think I want one.

[Luisd]

Hi Palm crazy, I think that your plant is Yucca desmettiana, I have one in the cactus garden, and grows postrate. In winter is more purple, and never bloomed. Yucca aloifolia is a plant very different.

Luis

[Eric in Orlando]

I agree that it is Y. x desmetiana, supposedly a hybrid between Y. aloifolia and Y. filamentosa.

Was growing some here. They grew well for a couple years then just declined and died.

[Palm crazy]

Thanks guys, I think you all are right. It looks to much like Y. desmetiana. I did read some where that the tissues culture Y. desmetiana is suppose to be hardier down to 8B, so I hoping it is at least that hardy.

Here's what the tag said which is totally Crazy..

Dusky purple spiky leaves. Tolerant of many growing conditions. Stout clusters of waxy white flowers tinged with purple.

Full Sun

Zone 5 (-20F).... (this sounds to good to be true.)

3'-5' high.

Let dry between waterings, deer resistant, container plant, drought tolerant.

These came from T&L nursery, but I think Briggs Nursery has the same tag info.

I'm going to plant them and see how they do this coming winter in different location in the garden.

Thanks for all the comments. Will let you all know how it does without protection.

Edited September 6, 2012 by Palm crazy

[Palm crazy]

All four are planted.

1) Full sun, low hedge on either side, no canopy above.

2) Half a day of sun, protected with Trachycarpus canopy above.

[Palm crazy]

3 & 4) Westside of house, no canopy. Some wind protection.

Will update in spring with winter results.

[Geoff]

these Yuccas are far more attractive as small plants... once you plant them, watch out.. they grow pretty tall and will need support eventually (or will fall over)... below are a few shots of mine after 4 years in the ground

[Geoff]

PS I trimmed the leaves off not because they were dead, though a enough were here and there to make the plant look a bit ugly... it tends to hold its leaves on for then entire length of the stem and most stay green... but I have been struggling with a beetle problem and the plant still struggles with beetles (rare problem for a southern California plant).

[Palm crazy]

Thanks Geoff for the pictures, here something I learned about them from a poster in PNW.

"I have one and so does my cousin in Seattle. My cousins is pretty big and has multiple trunks. I have never seen cold damage from either plant, and at Swansens Nursery in Ballard, one gallons specimens were out during some pretty nasty cold snaps the last three winters, and I couldn't see any injury to them.

Poor draining acid soil is probably the worst enemy for this plant. They can rot in our wet winters. I have seen this happen to a few plants, including one at my parents house. It recovered, but slowly."

_{^{Interesting to see how it does for me, since I have 15" more rain than Seatte.}}

Edited September 18, 2012 by Palm crazy

[Luisd]

a picture taken today