Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Friday - June 10, 2011
From: Harrison, AR
Region: Southeast
Topic: Seed and Plant Sources
Title: Infrequently blooming yucca in Harrison AR
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
My Yuccas have only bloomed once in 8 years. Looking at the Internet I think mine is Elephantis variety - I did buy them at a nursery; they are in full sun.ANSWER:
Yucca elephantipes is native to southeast Mexico and Guatemala. As such, it is not in our Native Plant Database. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center is committed to the growth, propagation and protection of plants native not only to North America but to the areas in which they naturally grow. The yuccas that grow natively to Arkansas are Yucca arkansana (Arkansas yucca), Yucca filamentosa (Adam's needle), Yucca glauca (Soapweed yucca), and Yucca glauca var. glauca (Narrow-leaf yucca).
From the University of Oklahoma Department of Botany and Microbiology we found this article on Yucca elephantipes, which says theirs has never bloomed.
University of Florida Extension Spineless Yucca has these notes under "Use and Management:"
"The two to three-foot-tall bloom is produced on top of the stalks once the plant is 8 to 10 feet tall. Spineless Yucca grows easily in full sun or partial shade on any well-drained soil. Do not plant Yucca unless drainage is superior. Yucca grows well as a houseplant in a well lighted area."
Yuccas require a specific moth for pollination, and if the right moth isn't around, you won't see fruit develop even though the plant produces flowers. Since your plant is not native to your area, the yucca moths that pollinate it will not be present, either, but that still doesn't explain why your plant doesn't bloom. One more thought: this plant is cold tolerant in Zones 9b through 11; Boone County, in northwestern Arkansas, is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a, which means the plant shouldn't be able to survive outside, much less bloom. Some of the information we saw referred to it as a house plant, but with a projected height of 30', we don't see how that would work. You already said it was in the sun, so we are assuming it is outside. The only other possibility is that you are feeding it with too much nitrogen-high fertilizer, which will frequently retard blooming.
More Seed and Plant Sources Questions
Sources of seeds for Quercus buckleyi
August 02, 2007 - I'm looking for a source for Liners or seed of "Texas oak (Quercus buckleyi)". Can you tell me any sources?
view the full question and answer
Native Suppliers Directory
October 27, 2008 - we are a wholesale wetland plants nursery.we'd like to be added to your wetland plant suppliers list.
thank you
tammy sons
tn nursery
12845 state rt 108
altamont tn 37301
931-692-4252
www.wetl...
view the full question and answer
List of native plants for landscaping in Nashville, TN
March 18, 2003 - Can you provide a list of plants that I can landscape with in Nashville, Tennessee?
view the full question and answer
Looking for Asclepians texana and other milkweed seeds
December 10, 2008 - Hi.
I was wondering where I could find seeds of Asclepias Texana, and other rare or uncommon Milkweeds. I am looking for seeds of all the Asclepias species. I have swamp, Clasping, and butterflyweed...
view the full question and answer
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower seed mix
August 06, 2007 - Where can I buy "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower seed mix?
Does such a thing exist? It seems like years ago my neighbor had some packets that she planted in her front yard, they were gorgeous! I woul...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |