Re: Category: Dumb Questions

Dear Janet

I could be wrong but all the yuccas I grow - about 15, and all the 
agaves about the same number die after flowering. I think this is a 
general rule for both genera as they are both Liliaceae and that 
seems to be the habit of all members of the tribe. Some Yuccas 
and Agaves take several years to die after flowering. I have Yucca 
gloriosa Concava that is still green and strong after flowering three 
years ago. I hope it is slowly developing some stolons with new 
growing points underground and I look anxiously for signs of them 
emerging now that the weather is warming. In pots I have lots of 
dwarf and miniature Agaves and likewise I look for offsets once 
flowering has occurred. Fortunately this genus seems rather more 
prolific and precocious than Yuccas and new plantlets often appear 
as 'pups' before the main rosette develops a flower stem.

Having said all that I now find myself wondering where Aloes fit into 
all this. They are Liliaceae too, or were last time I looked; yet they 
flower repeatedly from one rosette. The difference is that these 
bloom stalks are not terminal ie. at the end of the growing point, 
but develop from side buds between the leaves.

hope this helps but 'Yes', I think you are cutting off future flowers 
by trimming away new side growths on Yuccas and Agaves.

trevor n.


Trevor Nottle
Garden Historian, Garden Writer, Designer, Consultant
WALNUT HILL, 5 Walker Street, Crafers, SA 5152 AUSTRALIA
Tel./ Fax. 61 8 83394210
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