Not that it's easy to get a close-up picture of the flowers. The pictures above were taken from a distance. The yucca sits on the side of our slope, dividing our property from that of one of our neighbors. Actually, it may be more appropriate to say that it sprawls along the side of the slope.
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| Yucca, photographed from the top of the stairs that run down to the bottom of our slope |
The tree has multiple trunks and appears to have spawned progeny, although it's hard to make out where one tree stops and another starts. Ivy covers the base and lower portion of the trunks.
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| Thicket created by ivy and other plants grows up the trunks of the Yucca |
Cleaning up this area is a future project. A neighbor told me that there are a lot of squirrels and rats living in the area surrounding the yucca, which is off-putting. And the fact that the tree borders the property of a neighbor complicates things - it's not even 100% clear to me which one of us owns the yucca as the property line is fuzzy.
In the meantime, I enjoy the flowers. Yucca elephantipes is hardy in USDA zones 9b-11 (Sunset zones 12,13, 16, 17, 19-24, H1 and H2). It's native to Mexico and Central America and grows fast to 15-30 feet tall and 8 feet wide.
This is my contribution to Loree's favorite plants meme at danger garden.
That is a positively MASSIVE plant! I can imagine the prospect of a future clean-up might be daunting with all those spikes... and the chance of crossing a bunch of rodents - yikes!
ReplyDeleteMassive, yes. It does provide a rather good boundary plant between us and the neighbor.
DeleteWow...that is gorgeous! And huge, and spiky! While I think it's perfect as is I can understand your desire to get it under a bit of control, and I don't envy you that job. That's for posting about it, I hadn't heard of that type of Yucca before.
ReplyDeleteI think I've got to get that ivy under control - it hangs from the top branches in some places. Still, it's not a top priority.
DeleteWhat an amazing plant! I think I may remember similar plants in a park growing so massive that it had tunnels inside that children liked to play in. The thought of rats within would be intimidating.
ReplyDeleteI suspect this one would have tunnels too, Hannah, if only I cleared out some of the ivy and brush at the base.
DeleteWow, to have this Yucca do so well outdoors for you! It's a gorgeous large clump you have there!
ReplyDeleteYou might be less impressed if you saw how many of these plants there are in the area, Mark & Gaz. There are probably a dozen along my 6 mile trek down the hill into town.
DeleteI'm always happily surprised by the beauty, size, and quantity of yucca blooms! A great favorite!
ReplyDeleteThe flowers are fabulous. Too bad there's no way in heck I can cut those for a bouquet! That would be something.
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