Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Another Yucca filamentosa is my favorite plant in the garden this week…

If you’re thinking “but she already featured Yucca filamentosa a few weeks ago” you’d be correct, but that was an entirely different plant. You see this…

Looks nothing like this (even without the snow)…

It’s definitely not the same! This week’s plant has got great form and lovely subtle variegation, nothing like the vibrant variegation, and straight then bent form, of say Yucca filamentosa ‘Color Guard’…

In fact when I first saw this plant at Home Depot that fine form had me thinking I’d discovered a table of agaves, as I shared in this post from last spring. Plus there isn't even a single "filament" to be seen. So why am I calling it Y. filamentosa? Because that’s what the tag says! (admittedly it is a tag from Home Depot, not always the best source for horticultural information) Regardless of which yucca this is, it truly is spectacular in the landscape and I’m wishing I’d bought more than one, like a neighbor a couple of blocks away who planted multiples…

Maybe I’ll start a campaign to talk my next door neighbors out of theirs…

It’s a darn fine Yucca and if you see one in the nursery I think you should buy it! Even if the tag is less than helpful.

Stats from the Home depot tag…
  • Size: 2-3ft tall, 3-5ft wide
  • Hardiness: -20F
  • Water weekly during dry spells
  • Sun
  • Deer resistant

And since popular opinion (and mine now too) says this plant is Yucca gloriosa 'Variegata' here are the stats on it:
  • Size: 4ft tall x 3ft wide
  • Zones 7a-10b
  • Heat and drought tolerant
  • Sun
  • Deer resistant

32 comments:

  1. That is certainly a lovely one. I think I said this before but it looks just like one of my yucca gloriosa variegata I got in the infamous green pots indicative of high prices.

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    1. So...am I repeating myself Louis? Cause that's one of my biggest blog fears, that I ramble on about something that I've already posted about! In any case I'd say you called it, this one certainly does look like the photos I find online of Yucca gloriosa 'Variegata'...

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    2. Not repeating don't worry. Favourites are never repetitive! In fact, I could happily read a weekly yucca love post. That is, you see, because I loooove yuccas I think nearly as much as you!

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    3. Good cause guess what I'm posting about tomorrow! (haha)

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  2. I remember you talking about seeing this plant at Home Depot and thinking it was an agave. I went to my H.D. and saw them too but didn't get any. They were still there in the fall. Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll still have some this year because they sure look nicer once they are planted and get some sun!

    Don't worry about repeating yourself; we can never get too much of a good thing. Plus, at our age, people expect us to start repeating ourselves.

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    1. I was at the Home Depot in question a few weeks ago (back up heater for the shade pavilion greenhouse) and of course I had to take a walk through the garden dept! No yuccas for me...of course they could get in a new shipment anytime, this is why we must remain vigilant!

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  3. Hi Loree, could it be a variegated gloriosa indeed? Whatever it is its a lovely and love its colour and form!

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    1. I'm willing to put money on it...I believe that's what it is!

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  4. My guess is Yucca gloriosa 'Variegata' or Yucca aloifolia 'Variegata'. Beautiful specimen.

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    1. Very interesting...Yucca aloifolia 'Variegata' is a new one for me...I like it! I'm going with Yucca gloriosa 'Variegata' on this one, HD tag be damned!

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  5. It is beautiful! And it looks like it had pinkish-orange tips. Always a plus.

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  6. I have the suspicion (delusion?) that 'Color Guard' wants a little winter cold to look its best. My 'Color Guard' is never so pretty as the ones I see in USDA 8.

    It has to be okay to repeat. It's a blog; isn't a blog a diary of sorts to record obsessions? :)

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    1. I suspect you are on to something there. 'Color Guard,' while being a bit brash certainly lends light and a punch to a grey Portland day. I wouldn't be without it.

      And thank you for the permission to repeat. I really try not to, I even sometimes Google and/or do a blog search just to be sure! But I suppose it is inevitable.

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  7. Now we will all be rushing to Home Depot. I have picked up some real deals there. We don't expect much from them, but in fact they do a better job than most of identifying the succulents they carry(you know, the little ones that are most often grouped together as "succulents", and that's it).

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    1. I'll never completely discount the big boxes, they exist for a reason and I've scored some deals there. And you're so right about the succulents they do tend to have been than average labeling. Although I still remember the day I spotted a "cactus garden" dish planting (so labeled) without a single cactus in it. (I know I can hold a grudge far too long)

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  8. That's a good looking Yucca but what is the pink-tipped plant in front of it in the 7th photo?

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    1. That is the much loved Euprhorbia 'rigida'...that neighbor grows them to perfection and is the reason I took the plunge again.

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  9. I think one giveaway that it isn't 'Color Guard' is that the variegation is reversed (yellow in middle as opposed to yellow edges -- or vice versa).

    Always trust plant labels! Also pay a kid to switch the labels for you on a marginal plant you really want to buy with something that easily grows in your zone.

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    1. Definitely, no doubt about it not being 'Color Guard,' that's one thing I was sure of, although many people do mix up the color placement. For awhile I thought it might be Y. filamentosa 'Bright Edge' but there again the form just didn't seem right.

      I do like your tag switching to support zonal denial...might have to try that!

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  10. It's nicer than the others, with it's variegated foliage and it even looks great when it gets bigger. I like it with the plant with the grey foliage and pink tips.

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    1. Me too, it looks great with the Euphorbia 'rigida', guess I need to buy a couple more!

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  11. It's a Yucca gloriosa variegata Loree.

    They can form big thickets in time and they also flower quite freely and then branch at quite a young age. Just make sure you clear out the dead flowers otherwise they can rot the crown :whistle:

    Mind you, that is easier said than done with those vicious spines on the end of the leaves!

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    1. I've got just the tool for yucca flower removal! Here's hoping I have to use it.

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  12. What a beautiful yucca Loree, I will be keeping my eyes open! It looks great with your multi-colored gravel mulch.

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    1. Thanks Heather! Hope you find one...or more!

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  13. Home Depot really cannot decide what this plant is can they? I just brought one home today from HD - it was labelled as Yucca gloriosa, but after googling around it's clearly the 'Variegata' type. Whatever they want to call it, I love it and it was a steal at $7.

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    1. I just stumbled upon an entire table of these at Lowes. They're still labeled Yucca filamentosa and $7.98...

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  14. What is cool is they even have variegated yuccas that grow trunks.
    Where I live in southern New England arborescent yuccas are not that common.

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  15. David FergusonMarch 28, 2014

    Looks like Yucca glorisa 'Variegata'

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  16. Hey Loree...I was just at H Depot last night, bought a beauty of the same thing, several were still there at 9 bucks each. Will go back and get two more, I think. H Depot on SE oh..what is it, Glisan - Mall 205 land.

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  17. I got stuck by one in my arms swelled up what do I do

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