Re: Yucca filifera
Trevor, perhaps we could have a Yucca thread [sorry about the pun].
But seriously, are there any yuccas which don't sucker madly and are
reasonably safe to plant in the garden? Here in the south-west of W.
Australia we are rather plagued by a yucca first planted by the famous
Georgiana Molloy back in the 1830s which has proved an intractable foe to
many a soul trying to sort out an old garden. This I assume to be the Yucca
aloifolia from what little ID info I have been able to glean. Largely
inspired by Trevor's writings I have embarked on a collection of sorts of
the few species of yucca I've been able to locate, none of the variegated
ones unfortunately. I've never been game to plant any out of their pots in
case of rampant running. Any advice?
And why didn't our predecessors in our gardens plant the Dracaena
draco.......now there's a magic plant! Does anyone know if it will be
wintersafe in a very wet and mildly frosty environment.
Margaret.
----- Original Message -----
From: Trevor Nottle <trevorn@torrens.tafe.sa.edu.au>
To: <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Thursday, December 14, 2000 10:24 AM
Subject: Yucca filifera
> I am on a 'rave' having just been out and photographed a 25ft tall
specimen
> of this astonishing plant in the Waite Arboretum. The plant curves over at
> the top and from one of three stiff leaved rosettes hangs a 7ft long
> waterfall of white flowers. The flowers are densely packed so the whole
> resembles a crystaline stalactite plunging from overhead. Getting close up
> I could see at the tip of the flower stalk more and more buds developing
so
> the flowers will go on for a few weeks yet. Of note is the observation
that
> the flower stalks and stems are white too so there is a remarkable purity
> of colour that gleams against the bright blue sky and a stand of mature
> Pinus radiata in the background. Why didn't more people plant these
> beauties years ago? I'd have been glad to rescue on for my garden; as it
is
> I have to make do with a small immature plant that will take years to get
> large enough to flower - and many more years to attain the dignified
> stature of the plant I have just seen.
>
> trevor n
>
> Trevor Nottle
> Garden Historian, Writer, Lecturer, Consultant
> WALNUT HILL
> 5 Walker Street
> Crafers
> South Australia 5152
> AUSTRALIA
>
> Tel./ Fax. +61 +8 +8339 4210
> e-mail <trevorn@torrens.tafe.sa.edu.au>
>
