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History of Yucca (Agaveaceae) in a cold/wet zone 4b/5a

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Anything Yucca

Last Post by TimMAz6 14 years ago

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Paul Ont

(@paul-ont)

Posts: 1385

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I've never tried a complete list of my success/failure with Yucca/Agave before. I've been experimenting with these plants since ~2000 and have had a of success and many failures. Tim (Ma), you should know that you've been one of my greatest influences. Your former website gave me many ideas, and put me on the right track! This is disorganized, going from old pics to more recent ones... Certainly this is not a complete list, but it does include manyof the different species I've tried!

Yucca baccata. I've planted perhaps 10 of these over the years. Only one made it for more than 2 years. Here are some of the early, seed grown, plants:
1 of 2 survivors 2004/05:
<a href=" http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1404173757072511707VKWuU l"><img src=" " alt="Small baccata">
After -27C which burned some of the foliage. It had moisture protection:
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1371805264072511707XIcyx V"><img src=" " alt="burnedbaccata"></a>

Conclusion: Yucca baccata is VERY hardy (Maybe could handle -35C in my climate?) but terrible in moist locations.

Agave parryi. Larger plant, unknown collection location. Dead with moisture protection after -27C:
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1371904329072511707PzVLZ B"><img src=" " alt="DeadAgaveparryi"></a>

Agave utahensis. Seed grown. Survived maybe 3 winters including a low of -32C, with moisture protection. VERY TOUGH but, as with all Agave, terrible in moisture.
<a href=" http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/1404173030072511707rVuut G"><img src=" " alt="Agave Utahensis"></a>

Yucca elata. This one was transplanted and is still alive. Very good grower, bad at being transplanted. Has handled 3 winters at or below -30C.
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1371904577072511707lpauE a"><img src=" " alt="sadelata"></a>

Yucca brevifolia. Much hardier then people think. This one took -30C more than once (moisture protection), but failed when I had to transplant it. Seed grown. It lasted 3-4 years!
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1371904666072511707Ziuom n"><img src=" " alt="Yuccabrevfoliawinter05"></a>

Agave neomexicana. Died first winter. Have also tried 20 or so seed grown plants, all fail first year:
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/1371805194072511707rDTFv I"><img src=" " alt="agaveneomexicana"></a>

Hesperaloe parviflora. Looks OK here, but it was dead! Low was -26C.
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2101523680072511707LBQRT g"><img src=" " alt="IMGP0905"></a>

Cylindropuntia kleinae. I gave up on these for a little while after this one died... I have since found 2 half-hardy forms! A bit of a success story!
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2065846970072511707fARzf E"><img src=" " alt="IMGP0906"></a>

The Yucca elata after -26C. They are TOUGH!
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2258002710072511707PpEGt N"><img src=" " alt="IMGP0910"></a>

Another shot of Yucca baccata. Winter low from this year was -26C:
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2802313690072511707WXUcj b"><img src=" " alt="IMGP0916"></a>

Agave montana. I still think that some of these almost made it! Low was -26C.
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2166997020072511707fSYiM F"><img src=" " alt="IMGP0915"></a>

Agave lechugilla. Dead after -26C:
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2049673280072511707hocIE w"><img src=" " alt="IMGP0918"></a>

Agave parryi from 7000' in Az. This one survived for 3 years. Much better performance when moisture protected!
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2784369600072511707FYEYP j"><img src=" " alt="IMGP0919"></a>

Yucca thompsoniana. This seedling survived with moisture protection. When moved to a new spot it failed after the second winter (but was top-killed the first!)
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2392588070072511707dIUUc s"><img src=" " alt="IMGP0922"></a>

One of the last pictures showing the Yucca brevifolia is still alive (from 2008):
<a href=" http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2860336510072511707MBEeL o"><img src=" " alt="imgp1026"></a>

Yucca rostrata. This one died even with mositure protection:
<a href=" http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2209905880072511707vuHdB f"><img src=" " alt="Yrostrata0608"></a>

Another dead Agave parryi (2009):
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2030639480072511707BCFLd y"><img src=" " alt="DSC01905"></a>

Yucca recurvfolia. Top-killed (2009) Is still alive and has come back from the roots each year, I don't think it has top-killed since 2009:
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2555743770072511707biYLL O"><img src=" " alt="DSC01908"></a>

Yucca nana (2009). A total bust. Probably needs mositure protection:
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2296928510072511707lxkLx K"><img src=" " alt="DSC01909"></a>

Yucca harrimaniae. Hardy for 2-3 years. Still alive, but top-kills most years:
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2059633650072511707fxFHK E"><img src=" " alt="DSC01911"></a>

Yucca baccata (same one as before.) This is it dead, first year without moisture protection:
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2197336640072511707OjpUX U"><img src=" " alt="DSC01914"></a>

Yucca neomexicana. An OK performer. Top-kills 1 out of every 3 winters:
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2236489890072511707RBgGn Y"><img src=" " alt="rhodosbananasenduroottawa 060"></a>

Yucca gloriosa seedlings. These are still going strong. Hopefully this winter will kill some of them!
<a href=" http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2437963160072511707haNWq l"><img src=" " alt="DSCN0975"></a>

To show how cold it gets, this is top damage on Yucca filamentosa:
<a href=" http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2352883620072511707gpbYh O"><img src=" " alt="122"></a>

Yucca recurv. x filata. So far so good with these ones:
<a href=" http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2203702000072511707ejvGM A"><img src=" " alt="123"></a>

Yucca arkansana:
<a href=" http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2443621190072511707nktLz v"><img src=" " alt="128"></a>

Yucca pallida:
<a href=" http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2115721930072511707NYVBS B"><img src=" " alt="125"></a>

Before (2009):
<a href=" http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2379773250072511707CLqwj Y"><img src=" " alt="IMGP1377"></a>
After (2011):
<a href=" http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2419903520072511707fXMwr o"><img src=" " alt="DSC02959"></a>
<a href=" http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2153257630072511707RyrDx K"><img src=" " alt="DSC02962"></a>
<a href=" http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2179996700072511707OzEaw j"><img src=" " alt="DSC02963"></a>

Others:
<a href=" http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2259524320072511707MmsAK D"><img src=" " alt="DSC01639"></a>
<a href=" http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2046686710072511707uRGTO L"><img src=" " alt="DSC01645"></a>
Yucca kanabensis (beautiful plant. Too bad it failed)
<a href=" http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2955874690072511707wmyvH g"><img src=" " alt="DSC01646"></a>
<a href=" http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2588761200072511707HOnmv J"><img src=" " alt="DSC01651"></a>
Larger Yucca thompsoniana. It failed.
<a href=" http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2435270230072511707jpIfg A"><img src=" " alt="imgp1092"></a>
Yucca elata eaten by rabbits:
<a href=" http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2112846270072511707spffq y"><img src=" " alt="imgp1094"></a>
Yucca gloriosa 'variegata' or similar:
<a href=" http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2761239990072511707WyWeC A"><img src=" " alt="Yucca glorisa"></a>

That's all for now!

Posted : 21/10/2011 3:24 pm

DesertZone

(@desertzone)

Posts: 4411

Famed Member

Good bunch of info, love the pics. 😀

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 : 21/10/2011 3:45 pm

igor.glukhovtsev

(@igor-glukhovtsev)

Posts: 1179

Noble Member

Paul, did you have a chance mulching all these plants you presented above?

Posted : 21/10/2011 4:24 pm

Cameron_z6a_N.S.

(@cameron_z6a_n-s)

Posts: 1270

Noble Member

Great shots as usual, Paul. You have done some great cold-tolerance testing at your place. Which would you say was the hardiest agave (in terms of both cold and moisture tolerance)? The parryi from AZ?

Posted : 21/10/2011 8:53 pm

lucky1

(@lucky1)

Posts: 11322

Illustrious Member

Very good summary of your tests, Paul.
Sad to see stuff not make it.
But the ones that did are spectacular.

Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 21/10/2011 9:15 pm

Paul Ont

(@paul-ont)

Posts: 1385

Noble Member

Topic starter

Igor, No I never mulch desert plants. My reasoning is that these plants are adapted to surviving without water, so if the roots can't access liquid water, it's not a big deal... In practice this might not be a solid line of reasoning.

Cameron,

The northern forms of Agave parryi are probably the best in cold and moisture. The hardiest in terms of absolute cold is almost certainly Agave utahensis ssp. kaibabensis. It grows at over 8000' on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon (FYI the North Rim is closed in winter because there is too much snow!). I think these plants could handle temps down to -40C in ideal planting conditions. Oh, and they don't look half bad either:

Some habitat shots (reposts).
Me harvesting Yucca kanabensis seeds:
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2489184760072511707gzqqd W"><img src=" " alt="Yucca kanabensis"></a>
Agave parryi at ~7000' near Camp Verde, Az.
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2750343050072511707VkzcH Z"><img src=" " alt="Agave parryi"></a>
Another parryi, same location:
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2714352030072511707sqssq k"><img src=" " alt="arizona 2008 028"></a>

Agave utahensis ssp. kaibabensis:
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2496873450072511707bpIVJ H"><img src=" " alt="arizona 2008 110"></a>
The one I collected seeds from:
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2341526400072511707LVPWa u"><img src=" " alt="arizona 2008 115"></a>

FYI- None of the seedlings have yet survived one of my winters (unprotected!)

Posted : 22/10/2011 8:39 am

igor.glukhovtsev

(@igor-glukhovtsev)

Posts: 1179

Noble Member

Great pictures! How tall the flower stalks of these to species are? Do you have any pictures of the entire plants?

Posted : 22/10/2011 9:24 am

Paul Ont

(@paul-ont)

Posts: 1385

Noble Member

Topic starter

Igor, Not sure which species you mean, but ehre are a few:
Yucca elata veridensis, probably 12' tall:
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2300531360072511707YlYcq y"><img src=" " alt="arizona 2008 017"></a>

Agave parryi (different population), probably about 20 feet:
<a href=" http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2798505560072511707rkOvY D"><img src=" " alt="arizona 2008 051"></a>

Agave utahensis ssp. kaibabensis, not sure how tall this one was. I had to climb onto a boulder, a stretch to full length to reach the bottom few seeds! Perhaps 25' feet tall total?

Posted : 22/10/2011 11:34 am

igor.glukhovtsev

(@igor-glukhovtsev)

Posts: 1179

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Thanks Paul, I was talking about agaves.

Posted : 22/10/2011 12:53 pm

canadianplant

(@canadianplant)

Posts: 2398

Famed Member

Paul, this post has helped me quite a bit... I was wondering how much cold agave montana would take. I managed to get 2 seedlings. Im going to multch them, because according to RPS " this Agave could reasonably be expected to survive -15°C (5°F) even in damp conditions. This is not a desert plant!"

Also, I didnt see this asked, what has been your best success all around in terms of desert plants? And your best suprises?

"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien

Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/

Posted : 22/10/2011 6:33 pm

Paul Ont

(@paul-ont)

Posts: 1385

Noble Member

Topic starter

Jesse- I think that A. montana could handle about -20C if it was a large plant AND it was moisture protected. Despite what that spiel says, it won't handle a cold/wet winter!

I believe that Frank in Vaughn overwintered one a few years ago, but it was damaged badly by something like -18C with moisture protection (would have to confirm this with him). I also gave one to Clint in Niagara, but have not heard if it survived.

Posted : 23/10/2011 9:11 am

canadianplant

(@canadianplant)

Posts: 2398

Famed Member

One thing I wont do, is plant agave seedlings. Yucca maybe, but not agave, they seem to grow to slow.

I would have no choice put to give it cold and moisture protection up here. I have to assume agave arent as adapted to somewhat moist areas, like some yucca seem to be (relative of course, im thinking of Y Filamentosa), even though A.montana grows in a more "moist" area (maybe moist as in ground water and cover, not as much in terms of rainfall and humidity?).

The one thing is I cant find too much information on this one, in terms of people growing it. Your really the only first hand account ive seen so far.

Thanks for the input, I guess the only way to know is to try!

"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien

Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/

Posted : 23/10/2011 10:07 am

TerdalFarm

(@terdalfarm)

Posts: 2981

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Paul,
great post. I'm just getting into these plants and so have much to learn.
I have two Yucca rostrata, one with and one without a trunk. I bought them in Spring after learning that those hereabouts had survived -30 C (but with snow, and soil above freezing) in February. Any thoughts on why yours have died? --Erik

Posted : 23/10/2011 11:44 am

Paul Ont

(@paul-ont)

Posts: 1385

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Topic starter

Erik- I think it's the long cold/wet winter AND high relative humidity. In their native environments these species take extreme cold, but only for hours at a time... Plus they would have very few days where the temperature does not rebound to above feeezing. Whereas I have weeks below freezing, high soil water content (I'm thinking of expansion here when it does freeze, which you might not get in a desert environment?)

I'd say the length of the cold is the biggest deal, then the moisture. I could be wrong though!

Posted : 23/10/2011 12:47 pm

TerdalFarm

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Thanks.
Cold is very brief here, and our winters are dry.

Posted : 23/10/2011 12:49 pm

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