Hardiest "true" Yucca tree – Page 6 – Anything Yucca – PalmsNorth.com

MCKATELYN · 2012-07-25T03:22:35Z

Im new to this forum but have always loved the desert and have quite a large cactus/yucca collection. I live in a very solid zone 5(right on rim of 5a and 5b). I'm just outside of Chicago but sufficiently inland to not get much lake effect microclimate. My desert garden is along the south side of my house with a pretty large overhang to give good sun but also rain protection. I have a couple potted yuccas that come in for the winter(nice sized rostrata and large thompsoniana). Outside and unprotected, I have Y baccata, glauca, flaccid, filamentosa, gloriosa (cold damaged a couple yrs ago but lots of babies), recurvafloria(normally gets some leaf damage in winter but always pulls through), and a elata. All of those Yuccas have been in the ground for about 10 years and other then a good microclimate Against my house, received no winter protection. Some of those form a very small trunk but the only one I would really say is a tree forming one is the elata. With my placement and amount of time in ground, I would call elata a solid zone 5 yucca. It has gotten eaten back to ground several winters by rabbits but hasn't gotten cold killed back. I just checked out a book today at liberty called "Hardy Succents" that has lots of great information. It lists elata as hardy to zone 5 but lists Thompsoniana as zone 4 hardy. Does anyone know what the hardiest "true" tree Yucca is? My thompsoniana is about 4 feet tall and wasn't cheap so I'm a little scared to risk planting it in the ground but now am considering taking the plunge. I know there are lots of people on here growing things above there limits with winter protection or a few lucky warm winters. I was just curios if it's the elata or thompsoniana that is the hardiest tree yucca ;-)

MCKATELYN

(@mckatelyn)

Posts: 35

Eminent Member

Topic starter

This is a picture of my new Yucca elata that is ging to be dug and shipped to me. It's in Idaho. The nursery assured me they will get all the taproot so it can survive. I'm so excited 😀

Posted : 12/08/2012 11:05 pm

DesertZone

(@desertzone)

Posts: 4411

Famed Member

This is a picture of my new Yucca elata that is ging to be dug and shipped to me. It's in Idaho. The nursery assured me they will get all the taproot so it can survive. I'm so excited 😀

Looks too be a nice one, good luck. 😉

Shoshone Idaho weather
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/miniWeather06_both/language/www/US/ID/Gooding.gif" alt="Click for Pearce, Arizona Forecast" border="0" height="50" width="150" /></a>
Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-

Posted : 12/08/2012 11:36 pm

TimMAz6

(@timmaz6)

Posts: 2788

Famed Member

Igor

I think your 'glauca' which died from moisture is really a form of Y. angustissima. They can look very similar but angustissimas perform VERY poorly in my climate too. I think it's due to our moist air.

I can't figure out angustissima and harrimaniae.......they don't like my climate.

Posted : 13/08/2012 1:36 am

TimMAz6

(@timmaz6)

Posts: 2788

Famed Member

Kate

That's a beauty of a Y. elata. Keep us updated on it's progress.

Posted : 13/08/2012 1:38 am

Paul Ont

(@paul-ont)

Posts: 1385

Noble Member

Agree on the angustissima. The things just won't take the wet winter here... Maybe another 1000 plant grow-up is in order!

Posted : 13/08/2012 11:04 am

igor.glukhovtsev

(@igor-glukhovtsev)

Posts: 1179

Noble Member

I think your 'glauca' which died from moisture is really a form of Y. angustissima.

thanks Tim for explanation. I'll try to find my last goner and take a shot. First time I look at the newly came plant I was having feeling that is not Glauca. Let me check tomorrow.

Posted : 13/08/2012 11:06 am

igor.glukhovtsev

(@igor-glukhovtsev)

Posts: 1179

Noble Member

Unfortunately I don't have picture of the Yucca I mentioned before at time when it was alive. I founded "a dead body" this morning. Unlikely if it would be able to be identified: