Yucca elata, the BEST trunking Yucca for cold climates!

[Paul Ont]

I've come to realize that Yucca elata is the BEST trunking Yucca for cold weather areas. For you guys in Edmonton, this is the trunker to focus on!
Here is a picture of some transplanted Yucca elata seedlings in the spring of 2007 (after 2nd winter in ground, 1st in new location):
<img src="http://inlinethumb29.webshots.com/19420 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="Yucca elata"></a>
And here is what they looked like on Canada Day 2008 (after 2nd winter in the ground, and despite being chewed back by rabbit over winter!):
<img src="http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/42042 ... 600Q85.jpg" alt="Yucca elata">
The Yucca in the back is a variegated Yucca filamentosa which has lost most of its variegation!
Cheers,
Paul

[Barrie]

Hey Paul, those elatas look fantastic! How do you winter these?
I've got a bunch in one gallon pots I started from seed a couple of years ago. I guess I should get some planted out.

Cheers, Barrie.

[lucky1]

Amazing growth in a short period of time, Paul.
Filled out very nicely.
I'm impressed.

What fertilizer do you use on them?
Barb

[Paul Ont]

Barrie- To overwinter these I leave them as they are. The snow piles up on them. It melts a bit. The rabbits bite the leaves off and leave them scattered around. Then it's spring and they resume growth. In short, no protection. They can handle temps to -32C and probably below (without snow cover). An amazing Yucca species!

Barb- I fertilize them once a year, in spring, with a dilute mixture of standard 20-20-20 fertilizer... It might be better to use cactus fertilizer, but the 20-20-20 seems to work fine! I think the growth rate can be attributed to 6-8 hours of sun they receive everyday! Definately one to grow in the interior of BC!

[lucky1]

Yippee, nice to find something that uses a fertilizer I have on hand.
Think I can use 20-20-20 on my Y.rostrata too?

-32C Might have to get me some of those...

I'm hoping there is a saying "You can never have too many yucca..."

I look forward to more pics of those, Paul, during the summer.
Barb

[Jay-Admin]

Your elatas are looking good Paul. Here's a yucca elata I'm sure everyone knows about on the US Canada border. Been there a looooooooong time.



Regards,
Jay

[Wes North Van]

I can vouch for this yucca. I live in a rain forest or at least close to one and it does fine in our climate however I think recurvifolia is even better. It is faster growing and trunks better. it is easy to come by here and is never effected by our weather. This is the trunking yucca for our climate.
Aliofolia seems to do well also and is putting on some nice growth now. Rostrata is slower growing but about the same as elata.

I have three other types of yuccas but not trunking ones. All are fine in our climate.

[Jay-Admin]

I can vouch for this yucca. I live in a rain forest or at least close to one and it does fine in our climate however I think recurvifolia is even better. It is faster growing and trunks better. it is easy to come by here and is never effected by our weather. This is the trunking yucca for our climate.
Aliofolia seems to do well also and is putting on some nice growth now. Rostrata is slower growing but about the same as elata.

I have three other types of yuccas but not trunking ones. All are fine in our climate.

Yeah, Recurvs seem to do really good here in the Okanagan. Here's my biggest one that has been through three winters with no protection. I have three other ones almost as big.





Regards,
Jay

[Okanagan desert-palms]

Paul that is phenominal growth over a year and a bit. They are liking that new location. Jay your Y. recurvifolia are looking great. I might try some next year. Wasn`t that Y. elata planted in the early sixties form a couple from Arizona that moved to Oroville Wa.?Always nice to see pics of the famous Y.elata.

John

[Jay-Admin]

Paul that is phenominal growth over a year and a bit. They are liking that new location. Jay your Y. recurvifolia are looking great. I might try some next year. Wasn`t that Y. elata planted in the early sixties form a couple from Arizona that moved to Oroville Wa.?Always nice to see pics of the famous Y.elata.

John

Thanks John. Those are the folks who planted the elata seeds. I drove by there a month ago and they still look great.

Regards,
Jay

[Paul Ont]

If it's possible, that Yucca elata seems even more monsterous then it did in the last pics I saw of it! I think I'll be waiting at least 40 years for my elatas to compare to those!
I've not tried recurvfolia, the seedlings that I was growing that I though were recurv. turned out to be Yucca alofolia and none of them have been hardy! I'll have to give it a go!