Friday, December 28, 2012

Yucca filamentosa; my favorite plant in the garden, this week…


Actually let me correct that, Yucca filamentosa is my favorite plant in my mom’s garden this week (and that explains the snow)…

These plants are all growing at my parent’s home in Spokane, Washington, where we spent a wonderful white Christmas. We flew in on Christmas Eve and were welcomed by a picture perfect scene of 4” of fresh snow coating everything. It was gorgeous, but you’ll just have to trust me on that as I didn't take a single photo, I was too excited to see my family. Later after we’d spent some time catching up I went out to see what was looking good in my mom’s garden, that’s when I spotted these yuccas…

You’ve got to love a plant that still holds its spikes high when coated with snow…

And can withstand temperatures below zero!

Yucca filamentosa has been a spiky staple in my mom’s garden ever since I can remember. She rescued most of these from sure death by asking about their fate when she noticed them in the bed of a truck destined for the dump. Of course this Yucca filamentosa 'Color Guard' wasn’t part of that group, these are a step up from the common “parking lot yucca”…

The stats:
  • Zones: 5 – 10
  • Size: 2 – 3 ft wide and 3 ft tall
  • Full sun, and in my experience it can get by in just about any soil type

A word of caution however...be sure you really want this plant where you plant it. It has the ability to re-sprout from the tiniest little bit of root left behind. I carefully dug a dozen plants from my brother’s house in Spokane only to have them all return come the next spring. It’s a tenacious thing!

14 comments:

  1. The snow worried me for a second before I read that it was at your mom's house. Yea for yuccas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was definitely glad to leave it behind! (the snow that is)

      Delete
  2. Hahaha...you're so right...my dad is still trying to get rid of some he planted back when I was a kid. It's funny when I think about how eager he was at first to see them bloom! Oh, the fickle nature of gardeners!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For sure! (I'll let you in on my latest flip-flop. I'm actually starting to like "dusty miller"....oh the embarrassment!)

      Delete
  3. I was just commenting yesterday about yucca colour guard being a stellar plant... By far underrated and taken for granted. And with the filamentosa, it is such a reliable bloomer. Every year the yard is full of big flower stalks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've heard quite a few people say they don't like the yucca bloom spikes...WHAT!?!!

      Delete
  4. Such a tough, reliable plant that we absolutely love as well!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Spikes through the snow are pretty. Seems you inherited your love of spiky plants which is fun to know.

    This is very good news as it has been very cold here so far this year and I have several Color Guards in the front yard which are new this year. Yuccas in our yard in Virginia held up well in some pretty tough weather too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Up until taking that photo I didn't realize my mom had added a 'color guard' to her garden, and I guess I had assumed they weren't quite as cold hardy. Its wonderful that there are such hardy spikes available to cold climate gardeners!

      Delete
  6. Ah...so THAT'S where your spiky nature came from. Thanks, Mom!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Between growing up with the yuccas and then my brother moving to Phoenix it was inevitable...

      Delete
  7. That's exactly what my yuccas look like this morning along with everything else in my garden. I used the spent yucca flower stalks in one of the outdoor urn arrangements this year. Cool effect. Happy New Year Loree!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yikes! I guess you're used to the snow though right? Happy New Year to you too Sue!

      Delete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Comment moderation is on (because you know: spam), I will approve and post your comment as soon as possible!