Yucca brevifolia

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Fri Sep 12, 2008 9:40 pm

DesertZone wrote:
Paul Ont wrote:Haven't posted on this thread yet. First off, those are some nice brevifolias. I lost my last one this past winter... I think they become more sensitive to wet when they start to trunk. At least that's my theory!
Nest, about Yucca pollination. No, the Joshua tree should not be able to produce seeds without the 'correct' species of Yucca moth. It was previously believed that there were 1 or 2 species, but recent phylogenetic evidence suggests that there are many different species of mot, and a lot fo them are species specific. I can't seem to find the article otherwise I'd post a link, suffice to say that unless the Yucca is planted widely as an ornamental (i.e. continuous from the native range) then it is unlikey to produce seed outside the native range.
Interesting about the ants... Which species did they pollinate and do you have moths in your area? I ask because thy are small and seem to work in mysterious ways!

Thanks again for sharing the pics!
I know what you mean, I used to tell people that only a yucca moth can pollenate a yucca, I have read all the science papers. That say each yucca has its own sp of moth. Yes this might all be true, but the fact is I have had 3 yucca sp. pollenated by ants and yes the black seeds grew into little yuccas that are bigger now.
My harvester ants did not do it, it was my other ants that did it and I can't find out what sp. they are? They look just like fire-ants but they only have one nobe instead of 2 nobes. So I am still looking for more info. They are an ant that like to feed from aphids and I have noticed that the yucca may not have aghids on them, but they produce something that the ants like when they get thier flower stock. The flower stocks sometimes will be covered with these ants and only will these flowers stocks produce any seed pods with black seeds.
I all most decided to get ride of these aphid loving ants untill I seen that they produce yucca seeds. These same ants drank something from my big barrel cactus I once had, they liked it and guarded it. This is something science has just began to study with the barrels (ferocactus) and ants.
The 3 yucca sp were y. glauca, y. baccata, y neomexicana, but those are the only yuccas I have had bloom in my yard? They only produce seed if the ants are all over them, most years the ant are not near all of them. I have some that are pollenated from this year. I will take a pic and post it later.

That's interesting Aaron. Would never thought ants could pollenate yuccas. I have many different types of ants in my yard.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 9:43 am

There are little ants at my place, and yup, they seem to like even the youngest y.rostrata seedlings and the slightly older y.rostrata "sapphire skies".
I still think ants are "farming" the aphids for their honeydew on the yuccas.

Grasshoppers are leaving the yuccas alone, but have chewed some holes in one C.debaoensis and a Z.vasquezii.

There's no shortage of moths around here either.
Barb

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 6:34 pm

admin wrote:That's interesting Aaron. Would never thought ants could pollenate yuccas. I have many different types of ants in my yard.

Jay, I hope I have not sounded harsh on here, I am just realy excited about it.

My friend in Twin Falls you met has never had any pollenated, but then again he does not have those ants either. I think someone that studies yuccas should look into it. They only dig into a few of the pods, but still enough to get seed from. I was going to take some pics of them and the pod that I did not burn yet. I cut down the stocks and burned them, the pod fell off a stock and was left on the ground. I will see what I can do tomorrow.

Okanagan desert-palms · Sat Sep 13, 2008 11:45 pm

Aaron good to hear about the ants pollinating Yucca sp. Here are some pics of a few of my Joshua trees.

http://groups.msn.com/OkanaganPalms/sho ... hotoID=478
http://groups.msn.com/OkanaganPalms/sho ... hotoID=479

John

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 11:50 am

WOW, John those look awesome. You have a real nack for growing things from seed. They should do realy well when planted.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 1:58 pm

Found this link really interesting:
Scroll a page or two and yucca moths are pictured and discussed.

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=h ... n%26sa%3DN

Barb

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 5:59 am

Very cool.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 9:04 pm

here is the seeds,

and here is the ants

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:33 am

Aaron, are you going to germinate them?

I'm convinced the seeds are pollinated by ants...Maybe if yucca moths are not around?

Sheesh, he's a big brute.

There are one or two ants on each of my various sized 11 yuccas, 1 aloe, 1 spanish dagger, 1 joshua.
It's a long wait til these will flower.

Barb

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:39 am

Hi Barb,

I will probably let those seeds rot in the compost pile, but if I ever have one of my joshua's seed, than I will plant them. I will probably not wait to see if the ants will pollinate them. I will artificially do it with a toothpick.

Those ants hurt, they don't have a stinger, but they spray you with acid and than bite. The acid gets in your skin and burns.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 5:58 pm

Mid-summer udated pics of my largest j-trees

dwarf brveifolia

And brevifolia-brevifolia

Cowtown Palm Society · Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:56 am

Very cool! They look great...some real trunk on them too. Thanks!

Duncan

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:53 pm

When I post pics again I will post the hieghts also.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:44 pm

OMG, Aaron! Those are stunning! How they've grown!

I'm waiting forever for trunks to form...I'll just keep looking at yours.
Barb

ronbruce · Post by **ronbruce** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 8:36 pm

Very nice, Aaron.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 6:32 pm

Thanks you guys.

Ezekiel93 · Post by **Ezekiel93** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:18 am

Awesome Aaron

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:52 am

Ezekiel93 wrote:Awesome Aaron

Thanks

The drwaf is forming new branches on each crown .

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 1:08 pm

Cool pic, Aaron.

The 2 branches are branching AGAIN?

That'll be nice to see as they develop.
Barb

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 5:40 pm

lucky1 wrote:Cool pic, Aaron.

The 2 branches are branching AGAIN?

That'll be nice to see as they develop.
Barb

Yup.

Post by **Jay-Admin** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:13 pm

Cool.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Fri Mar 26, 2010 4:47 pm

Up date pics winter 2010/09
Mid winter and late winter pics.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 3:59 pm

Udated pics from yesterday.

ROBRETI · Post by **ROBRETI** » Sat Jul 10, 2010 6:53 pm

Hi Aron,

Your plants, your house and your environment is so cool! I love the adobe wall, the animal painting on the wall, the lights and of course, the Johua tree that looks extremely healthy and happy.
Rob

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sun Jul 11, 2010 8:09 am

Thanks Rob.

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:11 pm

Your Y. brevifolia is awesome.....can't grow them here unless moisture protected! I love your Y. elata in the background too!

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 3:12 pm

Thanks Tim.

I have lost a few here from root rot when I tried to plant them under the eaves.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Thu Sep 02, 2010 8:00 pm

Up-dated sept 2010

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 7:32 pm

your brevifolia is a BEAUTY!!!

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Fri Sep 03, 2010 11:36 pm

Thanks Tim

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Sep 04, 2010 8:01 am

Looking good Aaron,
how much do these grow per year for you?

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Sep 04, 2010 10:06 am

hardyjim wrote:Looking good Aaron,
how much do these grow per year for you?

The big one grows atleast 1 foot a year and the smaller ones vary.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Sep 04, 2010 10:32 am

I just measured my biggest j-tree and it is 7' 9" and 3' wide. The dwarf j-tree is 3'5" and 32" wide

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Sep 04, 2010 2:54 pm

biggest j-tree and it is 7' 9" and 3' wide. The dwarf j-tree is 3'5" and 32" wide

Incredible size/age considering some of the winters they've faced.
Truly prizes!

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sun Sep 05, 2010 12:25 pm

lucky1 wrote:Incredible size/age considering some of the winters they've faced.
Truly prizes!

Thanks Barb,
I hope I can reach the flowers for pollination if they ever bloom.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:52 am

Barely protected J-tree, and a few others.
http://unkowndestination.blogspot.com/2 ... 6084899509

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:58 am

Wow! Echinocereus triglochidiatus v. inermis - this little guy is awesome one!

Like your Rancho very much! It's so cool - white snow, dark stones and green plants! And blue sky of course!

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:11 am

Like your Rancho very much!

Me too!

Aaron, the J-tree is soooooo beautiful...look at how blue it is already.

Barb

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:22 am

Aaron, what kind of soil you have there? Is it heavy one? Any sand to mix with?

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Jan 21, 2013 8:32 am

Thanks everyone.

PalmsNorth.com

Yucca brevifolia

Link on yucca moths