New Winter arrivals

[andym]

My plants finally arrived from Germany. The courier rang my house..".We have a parcel for you.... they aren't those pointed trees are they? Can't handle them"
After convincing her that the parcel was not a 6ft giant tree they arrived today.

Yep ...its Yucca Baccata with nice straight leaves and the beginnings of a trunk

Yucca Gloriosa bright star... a replacement for my Yucca Gloriosa Variegata which died in the end of a rotted stem






Not what I was expecting Yucca Rupicola. It looks as if it has flowered. Bit naughty sending plants like that.
Finally a palm...Phoenix Theophrasti, the Cretan palm


I think it needs repotting


So there we are... end of season bargains that have to be overwintered for the next four months.

[andym]

I forgot to mention all these plants are planted in pure peat or a peaty compost. Why do they do this? In their native habitats they don't have Peat bogs
I guess I will have to remove the peat and repot with soil. Planting these plants can cause problems as the peat will act as a water sink and could end up rotting the roots.

[hardyjim]

Its cheap.....


Cool stuff...and the Yucca is huge/

[lucky1]

Another thing about peat moss...too acidic for long-term planting use (unless the plant needs an acidic pH).
But it's better than the SAWDUST that some nurseries use for lightweight shipping.

Interesting that your customs people allow peat moss in with plants from Germany...
That'd never happen here...everything's gotta be bareroot with a phytosanitary certificate into Canada.
What a pain that is, and expensive!

they aren't those pointed trees are they? Can't handle them"

That's funny, Andy, she probably "met" one or two that were planted too close to her postie paths.

Great purchases, Andy.
I wouldn't be disappointed if I received a yucca that has flowered...you know it's mature.
And it'll probably flower for you next summer.

Incredible how the nursery can get that Phoenix to stay looking THAT fabulous in such a small pot.

You've got some nice treasures there, Andy.

It'll be great to see where you put them in 4 months.
Barb

[TimMAz6]

great plants Andy!

The Y. baccata is a beauty.

The Y. rupicola is not a typical form (no twisted leaves). It's not even a typical Y. pallida which is a close relative. Do the leaves have a serrated leaf margin? It kinda reminded me of a wide leaf Y. reverchonii.

[Okanagan desert-palms]

Great buys Andy. Who knew Germany was such a hotbed for Yuccas. I only wish were able to get those plants here being closer to the source of the natural grown ones from California and Arizona.




John

[seedscanada]

The Y. rupicola is not a typical form (no twisted leaves). It's not even a typical Y. pallida which is a close relative.

My thoughts exactly.

Even my baby rupicolas twist wildly.

[DesertZone]

Good looking baccata.

[lucky1]

Even my baby rupicolas twist wildly.

Twisting?

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/7896840792/" title="004 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8293/7896 ... 03608c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="004"></a>

But these were labelled y.rostrata sapphire skies...



Barb

[andym]

Thanks for your replies
Tim.... yes there is a very noticable saw tooth seration on the leaves of the Rupicola ... very fine but there.I've had a look at my Yucca Pallida and although small there is a noticeable twist in the blue leaves.
Barb.... We have the freedom of movement in the EU which includes plants with soil. You may or may not have heard that our Ash trees are under threat from a fungal disease originating from Europe. Young imported ash trees from Holland have this fungal infection which threatens to wipe out over 80 Million local trees. Our English Oak and Horse Chestnut is also under threat from other fungal infections from Europe
John... There are many keen yucca specialists that are hybridising Yuccas in Germany as Tim is in the States. The Company I buy some of my Yuccas from actually grow them in Southern Spain where it has hot Summers.
Its interesting that ever since I started to plant Yuccas, it hasn't stopped raining here

[Cameron_z6a_N.S.]

Nice finds, Andy! As Barb mentioned, you're very lucky to have the relaxed EU regulations (other than Ash fungal diseases, etc)!

[andym]

I decided that being a very mild day to repot the Baccata. My suspicions were correct the plant was grown in pure peat. This plant exemplifies an Iceberg... not a lot up top of trunk but a lot down under

These nodules look to make new growth?? I've just put a very small amount of soil in the pot to overwinter



Next was the Rupicola or the alleged plant ....and more surprises


Again more growth nodules going in the wrong direction?
I also repotted the Phoenix Theophrasti

I want a thicker trunk before planting out. If this plant is anything like Canariensis the roots will soon fill the pot.

[seedscanada]

Barb, each Yucca rupicola leaf twists, not at its point of emergence, but for its lifetime.... this image is not mine but a good example of my rupicolas:
http://www.wildflower.org/image_archive ... _04044.JPG

[lucky1]

each Yucca rupicola leaf twists,

Oh OK, thanks Adam.

Andy, were those growth nodules BROKEN?
Could their location be a result of being in a too-small pot at nursery for wayyyyy too long?

Re the Phoenix Theo...

anything like Canariensis the roots will soon fill the pot.

My old CIDP lives in a garbage can but I'll prune roots this spring to get it back to a manageable pot.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/4482730428/

Barb