Yucca ID
 

Could someone ID this yucca for me please?
http://i34.tinypic.com/727fkp.jpg
Also, it is about four foot from the house; will the roots damage
the foundations/building?
Thanks.

Yucca ID
 

"Steve" asked:

Could someone ID this yucca for me please?
http://i34.tinypic.com/727fkp.jpg
Also, it is about four foot from the house; will the roots damage
the foundations/building?
Thanks.

I think your Yucca is Y. aloifolia. The roots shouldn't damage the
foundations of your house. If in doubt, cut any before they do reach
the building.

MD

Yucca ID
 

On Aug 4, 4:44 pm, "Mike Derby"
wrote:
"Steve" asked:

Could someone ID this yucca for me please?
http://i34.tinypic.com/727fkp.jpg
Also, it is about four foot from the house; will the roots damage
the foundations/building?
Thanks.

I think your Yucca is Y. aloifolia. The roots shouldn't damage the
foundations of your house. If in doubt, cut any before they do reach
the building.

MD

Steve, if the leaves are very hard (ie almost as if they were made of
wood or metal) with seriously sharp, needle-like tips, then Mike is
probably right. However, they look somewhat broader than is typical
for Y. aloifolia and the leaf colour is too bright as well. I'm sure
it is Y. elephantipes, which does not have sharp tips to the leaves
and is usually bright green when planted out. It is usually sold as
an indoor plant, but has proved remarkably tolerant of our UK climate
in the south at least. I grow both species in the garden and
aloifolia is absolutely treacherous to brush against, whereas
elephantipes is barely more dangerous than a Cordyline. As to the
roots, they will not damage building and cannot push through
foundations, so no worries there.

Yucca ID
 

In article ,
lid says...

Could someone ID this yucca for me please?
http://i34.tinypic.com/727fkp.jpg
Also, it is about four foot from the house; will the roots damage
the foundations/building?
Thanks.

If it is a Yucca its probably Yucca gloriosa but it is very unusual to
see them so tall and well grown, if it is it the leaf tips will have a
very sharp point (adams needle) if these are missing then I am not sure.
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

Yucca ID
 

In article f2b1cda7-b1dd-4534-bd28-
, says...
On Aug 4, 4:44 pm, "Mike Derby"
wrote:
"Steve" asked:

Could someone ID this yucca for me please?
http://i34.tinypic.com/727fkp.jpg
Also, it is about four foot from the house; will the roots damage
the foundations/building?
Thanks.

I think your Yucca is Y. aloifolia. The roots shouldn't damage the
foundations of your house. If in doubt, cut any before they do reach
the building.

MD

Steve, if the leaves are very hard (ie almost as if they were made of
wood or metal) with seriously sharp, needle-like tips, then Mike is
probably right. However, they look somewhat broader than is typical
for Y. aloifolia and the leaf colour is too bright as well. I'm sure
it is Y. elephantipes, which does not have sharp tips to the leaves
and is usually bright green when planted out. It is usually sold as
an indoor plant, but has proved remarkably tolerant of our UK climate
in the south at least. I grow both species in the garden and
aloifolia is absolutely treacherous to brush against, whereas
elephantipes is barely more dangerous than a Cordyline. As to the
roots, they will not damage building and cannot push through
foundations, so no worries there.


You live and learn I had not thought either would grow to that size in
the UK!
--
Charlie Pridham, Gardening in Cornwall
www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of national collections of Clematis viticella cultivars and
Lapageria rosea

Yucca ID
 

Charlie Pridham wrote
In article ,
lid says...

Could someone ID this yucca for me please?
http://i34.tinypic.com/727fkp.jpg
Also, it is about four foot from the house; will the roots damage
the foundations/building?
Thanks.

If it is a Yucca its probably Yucca gloriosa but it is very unusual to
see them so tall and well grown, if it is it the leaf tips will have a
very sharp point (adams needle) if these are missing then I am not sure.

Charlie, thanks for the suggestion, but I've a variegated gloriosa
growing in the back garden; the one in the front garden lacks the
needle sharp tips and is much faster growing.

Yucca ID
 

Mike Derby wrote

"Steve" asked:

Could someone ID this yucca for me please?
http://i34.tinypic.com/727fkp.jpg
Also, it is about four foot from the house; will the roots damage
the foundations/building?
Thanks.

I think your Yucca is Y. aloifolia. The roots shouldn't damage the
foundations of your house. If in doubt, cut any before they do reach
the building.

The floor is concrete, so I can't check the roots. Thanks for the
suggestion.

Yucca ID
 

Dave Poole wrote
On Aug 4, 4:44 pm, "Mike Derby"
wrote:
"Steve" asked:

Could someone ID this yucca for me please?
http://i34.tinypic.com/727fkp.jpg
Also, it is about four foot from the house; will the roots damage
the foundations/building?
Thanks.

I think your Yucca is Y. aloifolia. The roots shouldn't damage the
foundations of your house. If in doubt, cut any before they do reach
the building.

MD

Steve, if the leaves are very hard (ie almost as if they were made of
wood or metal) with seriously sharp, needle-like tips, then Mike is
probably right. However, they look somewhat broader than is typical
for Y. aloifolia and the leaf colour is too bright as well. I'm sure
it is Y. elephantipes, which does not have sharp tips to the leaves
and is usually bright green when planted out. It is usually sold as
an indoor plant, but has proved remarkably tolerant of our UK climate
in the south at least. I grow both species in the garden and
aloifolia is absolutely treacherous to brush against, whereas
elephantipes is barely more dangerous than a Cordyline.

The leaves aren't very hard and no needle-like tip, so I think that
rules out aloifolia, though the leaves are stiffer than yucca
houseplants, which are very flimsy compared to this. When I've
pulled off the older leaves, I've received a paper type cut, which
I don't think I could get from a cordyline or yucca houseplant. I
suppose this could be down to the size of the plant.

As to the
roots, they will not damage building and cannot push through
foundations, so no worries there.

That was my main concern. Thanks, Dave.

Yucca ID
 

On Aug 4, 9:38 pm, Steve wrote:

The leaves aren't very hard and no needle-like tip, so I think that
rules out aloifolia, though the leaves are stiffer than yucca
houseplants, which are very flimsy compared to this.

When they are grown indoors or under shade, the leaves are very floppy
and a much darker green. Given full sun and Y. elephantipes
transforms into a far more substantial plant and may even reward you
with a very dense spike of large, green tinted cream flowers.


When I've pulled off the older leaves, I've received a paper type cut, which
I don't think I could get from a cordyline or yucca houseplant. I
suppose this could be down to the size of the plant.

I've had these 'paper cuts' from Cordylines as well as Y.
elephantipes. Much less painful than being stabbed ... no,
monumentally punctured by Y. aloifolia!

My Y. e. ran up to 10ft. before I chopped it a few years ago. Now it
has formed several branches and is taking off again. I reckon it to
be one of the fastest growing Yuccas and it can easily put on a foot
of trunk each year given the right treatment. By contrast, Y.
aloifolia is rather slow, but very determined nevertheless. I'm very
fond of my plant because of sentimental attachments, but I could never
recommend it to others - too damned dangerous. It is commonly known
as 'Spanish dagger' and believe me that is no exaggeration.

Yucca ID
 

Dave Poole wrote
On Aug 4, 9:38 pm, Steve wrote:

The leaves aren't very hard and no needle-like tip, so I think that
rules out aloifolia, though the leaves are stiffer than yucca
houseplants, which are very flimsy compared to this.

When they are grown indoors or under shade, the leaves are very floppy
and a much darker green. Given full sun and Y. elephantipes
transforms into a far more substantial plant and may even reward you
with a very dense spike of large, green tinted cream flowers.

Thanks for the explanation.

When I've pulled off the older leaves, I've received a paper type cut, which
I don't think I could get from a cordyline or yucca houseplant. I
suppose this could be down to the size of the plant.

I've had these 'paper cuts' from Cordylines as well as Y.
elephantipes. Much less painful than being stabbed ... no,
monumentally punctured by Y. aloifolia!

My Y. e. ran up to 10ft. before I chopped it a few years ago. Now it
has formed several branches and is taking off again. I reckon it to
be one of the fastest growing Yuccas and it can easily put on a foot
of trunk each year given the right treatment. By contrast, Y.
aloifolia is rather slow, but very determined nevertheless. I'm very
fond of my plant because of sentimental attachments, but I could never
recommend it to others - too damned dangerous. It is commonly known
as 'Spanish dagger' and believe me that is no exaggeration.

I believe you :-). The needle points on my gloriosa and baccata
are painful enough when they get me. When I remember I cut the
tips of the needles off.