Yucca filamentosa (Adams Needle)
Michael's Opinion
This is a plant I have had in my own garden, I put it down to inexperience since when it is in flower it is stunning. That said the rest of the time it looks as if it belongs in an arid, rock strewn environment: which my garden is not. Once planted it is hard to remove since it travels. I dug mine out, shoots reappeared, dug those out, it came up in the lawn, those I mowed, where it came up in the driveway I parked the truck on it; it finally succumbed. For a chuckle read what Michael Dirr has to say with regard to Yucca in his book Manual of Woody Landscape Plants.
Botanical Information
| Family | Asparagaceae |
| Genus | Yucca |
| Species | filamentosa |
| Category | Woody |
| Type | Shrub (evergreen) |
| References | Widely available. |
| Pronunciation |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 4 - 8 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | 2a - 8a |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H7 - H3 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | (-32) - (-7) |
| Temperature (°F) | (-25) - 20 |
| Height | 2 m |
| Spread | 1 m |
| Growth | Medium |
| Flowering Period | June |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | A rosette forming plant, often seen growing in clamps of dark green, strap like leaves. |
| ID Characteristic | Thin, long strap-like leaves, a singular flower spike with large inverted pale cream bell like flowers. |
| Shape | Pointed, vase shaped plant. |
| Propagation | Division of the thick fleshy roots if you must. Pollination occurs through the Pronuba Moth. |
| Cultivation | Full sun in most soil types that are not waterlogged. |
| Pests | None that I am aware of: pity. |
| Notable Specimens | The Gardens of Fanshawe College, London, Ontario, Canada. The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. |
| Habitat | Overlapping drooping, spike like leaves. |
| Leaf Description | Thin, dark green, acutely pointed strap-like leaves, to 60 cm in length and 4-5 cm at their widest point but sharply tapering. Evergreen, often with fibers trailing along the edges of the leaves. |
| Flower Description | A singular flower spike (raceme) with large inverted pale cream bell-like flowers, nodding, from 2-12 or more, 4-5 cm across. |
| Fruit Description | A large dehiscent capsule, to about 4 cm, compartmented, turning beige when ripe and splitting to release the seed. Several capsules to one flower spike. |
| Colour Description | Dark green leaves with no seasonal change. |
| Texture Description | Coarse textured. |
Photographs
A plant at the University of Western Ontario, London.
Y. filamentosa 'Bright Edge'