blue beaked Yucca is a common name and I see it referring to either Yucca rostrata or Yucca thompsoniana. Thompsoniana looks similar to rostrata but thompsoniana will bloom more often, have shorter, more rigid leaves and is slightly smaller is overall size. Thompsoniana is a 1/2 zone hardier too.

Here's my Y. rostrata
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Here's the same rostrata when I transplanted it (move from Rhode Island to Massachusetts) in 2004. Y. rostrata on left.:
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It's probably grown 3.5 feet since 2004.

Thanks! helps a lot.

Do you do any winter protection for your Yucca's at all? Right now I just have a newly planted ebay mail order Blue Beaked Yucca that is only 12" tall in a pot. I'll bring it in the garage when it gets real cold, and maybe plant it in the ground in a year or two when it gets a bit more root development.

I try to protect my Y. rostratas every winter. Our biggest problem is excess moisture as we receive 4 inches of precipitation every month of the year and Y. rostrata does not enjoy winter precipitation. I try to keep winter rain/snow off the leaf lead so rot does not set in. Here are a few photos over the years.

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Your colder than here.....we only get down to 0F to -5F each season. Y. rostrata will have difficulties below -10F unless bone dry. Plant yours in a nice warm microclimate.

Thats awesome Tim!

How often do you have to weed in the rocks?

@Tim, were about the same climate as you, but still have to factor in wind chill etc. I think your right though, some common sense protection is probably a good peace of mind investment to do.

High on a mound should help also. keep the root dry in the winter. 🙂

Yes, Tim's got at least one of each yucca...a true yucca farm.

He forgot to include the photo of the snow tunnel the Christmas lights made when laid across the lawn to the winter protection. 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆

Hot location, and a dry winter is good advice.
The roots of yucca are quite fleshy, like a tuber.

If you receive lots of rain, you could plant them near a building's eaves/overhang.

Barb

Hi Barb,

you liked this photo......or your bust'n chops on my poor excuse of winter protection....... 😀 😀 😀 It does show ya how a few small lights warm things up!

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Hey Jim,

don't get me going.............I hate late July and August.....the weeds are so much fun! 😡 👿 ❗ 😈 I guess if I placed some Preen down it wouldn't be so bad but I like to keep the cactus seeds sprouting. Why can't I kill these cactus seedlings? ❓ ❓ ❓ ❓ ❓ I didn't plant any of these cactus, just self seeding here by the ton! PS, Yucca from Germany.......likely a Yucca aloifolia x elata or Yucca elata x aloifolia.

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The Y. aloifolia x elata in Germany (Yucca on right):
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Not bustin' your chops, Tim, I just remember seeing it late winter, enjoying it with a chuckle.

Those cactus are volunteers? Holy cow!
Some people can't grow 'em when they plant them! 😆

Love that pic from Germany...thanks for posting it.

What's with that 3rd pic? yucca with no roots?
Who did that?

Barb

Hi Barb,

the cactus seed self seed here way too easy. All they need is 1 winter cycle exposed to our precipitation and PRESTO germination. I think the key is all the rain we get......it must remove some inhibitor which is present in the cactus fruit.

The Yucca in Germany is VERY RARE......it's the only one of it's kind. We Yucca freeks think it's a Yucca aloifolia x elata. The person who purchased it said it was a seeding which was suppose to be Y. aloifolia. Very cool trunker with narrow leaves. The photo with a cut section is someone getting a 'starter log'. Good thing Yuccas root easy. I wish palms could do that!

Good point about all your rain, Tim.
That certainly would help even though I thought cactus need heat/drainage first, then moisture.

Yes a trunking yucca with narrow leaves is certainly much sought after.
Lucky guy who got the starter log...at first glance I thought somebody just hacked it off (a sin!) 😕

Yup, don't we all wish palms would root that easily...and survive with a modicum of neglect. 🙄

Thanks again for posting those pics.
Barb

Anyone can identify this Yucca?

Looks like Y rostrata to me, but could Yucca thompsoniana or Yucca linearifolia. Get a close up of the leaf. 🙂