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Old 18-06-2006, 09:10 AM posted to rec.gardens
Charles
 
Posts: n/a
Default Can anyboby identify this plant?

On Sun, 18 Jun 2006 07:39:07 +0000, di7ip
wrote:


George Shirley Wrote:
di7ip wrote:
Hello all,

I need help. I bought this plant about 6 years ago thinking it would
look nice next to my water feature. It' a green spikey yucca type
thing
- leaves about 2 foot in length and bout 3 foot tall (does that ad up
?). Anyway, during those 6 years the plant has sprouted next to
itself
aboput three times and is slowly migrating towards my house. This
year,
for the first time, it's started to flower, at least that's what I
think
it is. A huge red 2 inch thick stem/stalk has shot up from the
centre
with red 6 inch leaves, each of those leaves protecting about 5 buds
ready to flower. This stem however is already about 7ft tall and I
don't quite know what to do. It's growing at such a rate it's unreal
and given I live in a three storey house, I'm afraid that I might see
it tomorrow morning when I open my bedroom curtains !
If anyone has any info on what it is or how I should look after it
then
I would be grateful. Please see attached pics.

Thanks


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Looks like one of the southwestern US yucca plants. In the proper
climate they can be very invasive. In their own territory they don't
take over the area but in a damper climate, aka UK, they can move
rapidly. Some people call them "Spanish bayonet" because the tips of
the
"leaves" are very sharp. Took me a year to clear out a patch on some
land I used to own in Texas. HTH

George



Thanks George. I'm actually unsure what to do with it now, should I
look after it, or should I get rid of it ? I think I'll wait to see
what the flowers look like. It's growing so fast, another 8 inches at
least since I posted the first thread on Friday. I've just noticed
that a new one has started to grow right next to it. If this can be
removed without harming the existing one, then anybody is welcome to
it.
Thanks


The plant that is blooming will most likely die after the flower
finishes. I'd just let it go now, it will be more fun to watch and
nothing bad will come of it. The pups that start around the bottom
can be separated and replanted. sort of up to you if you want to keep
one or more of them going when this one finishes.

We had one where I worked, different species, that made it to 40 ft
high.