Yucca Rostrata hardiness questions in zone 6b

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 8:34 pm

Hi I live in southern Illinois, zone 6b. I was thinking about buying a yucca rostrata. Do they tolerate wet winters?

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:41 am

Hi Bryce,

Planting y.rostrata under a house eave on the leeward (not windy) side of a building should keep damaging winter rains off.
The trick with all desert plants is excellent drainage and keeing them dry in winter.

A winter shelter above it (posts over which plastic is suspended/tied) can keep freezing rain from entering the growing bud area.
In colder areas, extra protection (especially when young) would include extending plastic to the ground and heating the inside with Christmas lights.

On mild sunny winter days, you'll want to ensure the protection doesn't overheat from the sun and "cook" the plant.

My problem with under the eaves is that eavestroughs generally send all the roof water into the root zone, needing to be diverted.

I've killed a rather big one

We love photos, so please post a pic of yours.
Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:42 am

How large of one are you getting?

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:25 am

I was just wanting to get a small Yucca rostrata. Will a small one do ok in the winter if kept dry? or would I have to let it grow larger before planting it outside? I just diden't know if it would do well here because its often very wet and rainy here in the winter, but i guess it might do ok if kept dry. I am also going to buy some Yucca gloriosa too my neighbor has some, I like the trunked yuccas. I already have some Y. filamentosas, the only yuccas I currently have, they seem to do well here they grow wild usually on hillsides.

stalewiak · Post by **stalewiak** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 12:15 pm

Tez mieszkam w strefie 6b ale w Polsce . Lepiej yucca rostrate trzymać w donicy i wynosić ja na zimę do piwnicy .Moim zdaniem nie da rady przetrwać mrozów

Also live in zone 6b but in Poland. Yucca rostrata is better to stick in pot and be me for the winter into the basement. In my view, counsel can not survive frost:)

2.5 years rostrata

[/img]

Pozdrawiam

Godfryd · Post by **Godfryd** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 4:07 am

Hi, That's mine 2 years old yucca rostrata in the ground in zone 6a/b. I think withe the little help from us (people) it can survive our wet winters.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:57 am

Y.rostrata aren't known for surviving wet cold but, as Bryce says, some yuccas are native where he lives, but I dont think y.rostrata are anywhere near as hardy as Y.filamentosa that survives here unprotected.

Beautiful plants Godfryd and Stalewiak!

Here are some of mine:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6421579493/" title="DSC05145 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6421 ... 2cb1_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="DSC05145"></a>

Happy day when they arrived in 2008:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/2636882322/" title="DSC01429 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3053/2636 ... 2b06_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="DSC01429"></a>

Got them from Tony Avent's Plant Delights Nursery in the Carolinas.
Bryce, in my opinion, I'd get a smallish one and bring it into a cold, barely-heated room or well-lit garage for the first few years, then protect it for the first few years after planting out. They're so beautiful and worth the extra care.

Post a pic of it when you get one please, Bryce.
Barb

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:16 am

Thanks everyone for the advice and the nice pics. I think one might survive under the overhang of the house if I plant it in some sandy well draining soil and keep it covered in the winter. I will post pics Barb if I get one. Thanks

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 10:08 am

Its possible it may need some protection during long periods of cold.
Definitely needs to be in very well drained soil and shielded from moisture after Oct 1.

For best success.

I bought a tiny one in 2008 and I do mean tiny.

Heres a picture of it Oct 3 2011-upper left cornerish-

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 10:34 am

So, Jim, you recommend planting it out when young?

Instead of babying it until it's older and has better developed root system in a pot?

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:30 pm

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:42 pm

Wow tim nice pics, I love your desert garden looks really good. Those Y. Rostratas look very nice. I think our climates are pretty similar. So I think im gonna try to get 2 Rostrtas and see how they do this spring.

stalewiak · Post by **stalewiak** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 6:51 am

Wow gratulacje ale u nas w gruncie gdzie czasem spada do - 28 nie ma szans . Za pewne u was nie ma takich spadków temperatury

Widze że szybko rośnie

Wow congratulations, but with us in the ground where he sometimes goes down to - 28 does not have a chance. For some of you there is no such temperature drops;) I see that the fast-growing

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 7:40 am

stalewiak wrote:Wow gratulacje ale u nas w gruncie gdzie czasem spada do - 28 nie ma szans . Za pewne u was nie ma takich spadków temperatury Widze że szybko rośnie

Wow congratulations, but with us in the ground where he sometimes goes down to - 28 does not have a chance. For some of you there is no such temperature drops;) I see that the fast-growing

Being a part of a Slavonic languages people I might make a GOOGLE translation more correct.

Our honorable Mr. Stalewiak is saying: You are lucky guys, you've never got a cold as such as minus 28 C. Nevertheless those plants I've seen they grow pretty fast.

I mean only my way translating a brotherly language clause.

Godfryd · Post by **Godfryd** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 12:53 pm

Tim, beautiful lplants and great desert garden. You bring hope

Igor - very good translation! Congratulation!

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 6:04 pm

Yes, I don't experience temps to -28C. The coldest the Yucca rostrata experienced is -8F (-22.2C). It did fine.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Jan 08, 2012 12:46 pm

coldest the Yucca rostrata experienced is -8F (-22.2C). It did fine

Gives us all hope Tim.

Ooooh, I'm dying to have a peak to see how my 3 planted Y.rostrata are doing (and the 2 W. filifera).

But they're in a virtual network of covers/plastic over Christmas lights and adjacent black garbage bags filled with leaves (for sunny days), all of which is covered by more plastic and taped, held with big heavy rocks. Darn.

Patience...patience! (I have NONE)
Nearly 2.5 or 3 months to go before covers come off.

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:26 am

Hi Barb,

I assume your growing season is shorter than my climate. I wonder how this will affect Yucca rostrata. Keep us posted on their progress.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 8:09 am

assume your growing season is shorter than my climate.

Yes, quite a bit shorter Tim.

But our summers are intensely hot and dry, with hot strong winds.
I think my 3 y.rostrata are situated well.
Under the house eaves on the south side, so summer heat is assured.

It's only winter's arctic blasts that can kill them, as we get very little moisture in winter (these years anyway).
So far we've had only -10C (14F), but an arctic blast is on the way mid-week.

Love seeing your yard, Tim, chock full of every gorgeous yucca

Barb

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:05 am

How hard are your Rostrata to uncover?

I wouldn't think(even when small)they would need covering below at least 0(F)

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 9:57 am

hardyjim wrote:How hard are your Rostrata to uncover?

I wouldn't think(even when small)they would need covering below at least 0(F)

I agree, they may need some fresh air. This weather should be ok during the day.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 11:27 am

OK gonna rip the cover(s) off and take my camera.
Back soon.

Maybe not if they're dead.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 12:23 pm

Drumroll....ta da!

They look fabulous, even growing!!!!!

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6668776539/" title="DSC05281 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7157/6668 ... 5c78_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="DSC05281"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6668776547/" title="DSC05286 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/6668 ... 5d99_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="DSC05286"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6668776555/" title="DSC05282 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7171/6668 ... 5f4e_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="DSC05282"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southslope/6668776623/" title="DSC05283 by edible_plum, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6668 ... f5b0_z.jpg" width="480" height="640" alt="DSC05283"></a>

Thanks guys!

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 3:40 pm

Those look awesome. With that kind of protection I bet its warmer than inside the house.

Your dasylirions will do fine with that kind of protection, heck I think tomatos would do good with that kind of protection.

I bet they will be just fine. I have yet to see any weather that would hurt my rostratas this year (even uncovered).

Looking good.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:25 pm

thanks Aaaron, you're right...it is warmer in there sometimes (when the remote thermometer is working

).
I've seen the inside protection hit 23C 73F on a sunny day.
But left protection on with forecast -5C 23F overnight.

You had a good idea. I'll plant the Dasylirions there.

Glad your uncovered rostratas are happy this winter.
Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Mon Jan 09, 2012 7:39 pm

Hi Barb,

your Y. rostratas look real happy. They laugh at 14F, you should be fine. Keep the updates coming.

igor.glukhovtsev · Post by **igor.glukhovtsev** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 8:00 am

lucky1 wrote: (when the remote thermometer is working ).

Barb, i had the same problem with my remote thermometer in November. Everything has been improved once I was changing batteries either in remote sensor or in the weather station. Now it works properly !

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 8:17 am

Igor,
I changed the batteries twice, no improvement.

Guessing that the unit was dropped/damaged in the store.

Taught me to NEVER again buy the "first" item...but to reach in and buy the third or fourth one.

thanks for the tip.
Barb

stalewiak · Post by **stalewiak** » Sun Oct 13, 2013 12:37 am

L rostrata R rigida

seedscanada · Post by **seedscanada** » Sun Oct 13, 2013 12:56 am

Mine has been hit hard its first two winters... coldest was -18c on one day. But quite a bit of leaf discoloration. Then slow to start in the spring.

This past winter I had a pane of glass angled above the rostrata to keep it dry. This summer had growth better than ever, since there was minimal setback from winter damage. It may also help that our low this past winter was -11c three times and -13 for one hour... an 8a winter. I could take more like that

Good looking Yuccas in that last pic. What have been your low temps over winter?

PalmsNorth.com

Yucca Rostrata hardiness questions in zone 6b

Yucca Rostrata hardiness questions in zone 6b

Who is online