Yucca Garden - a perennial and evergreen plant, belongs to the Asparagus family and the Agave subfamily. In late spring and early summer, the yucca blooms, it can be combined with any shrubs and trees, becoming a real decoration of the garden.
Origin
Yucca is a thermophilic plant native to South America. Easily takes root on sandy and rocky lands, along roads and on coasts.
White inflorescence on a green background
For over a century, it has been grown in temperate latitudes; for the past 20 years, it has remained the favorite decorative plant of gardeners in Russia and Belarus.
Plant descriptions
The plant has a well-developed base, the trunk has a solid woody structure. The basal sheets are flat, have an elongated linear shape and a pointed end. The width of the sheet is 1-4 cm, in length it grows to 80-90 cm, is painted in blue-green shades. On the side of the leaves, threads can grow that quickly fall off.
Paniculate inflorescences consist of many flowers, grow up to 1-3 m in height. The flowers have a fragrant aroma, painted white with a greenish, cream or yellowish tinge. The bud consists of 6 petals, has the shape of a bell, grows up to 5-7 cm in length. Some varieties of the plant bloom for longer than 1 month.
Note! Yucca bears fruit only in its natural habitat. Butterflies that are found only in the southern regions can pollinate the plant. In temperate latitudes, a plant can propagate by imported seeds or by a vegetative method.
Types and varieties of yucca
All varieties of yucca are outwardly similar to each other, but each has its own characteristics. Different varieties of plants have their purpose, some are used as home plants, others are well established in the open ground.
Schidigera
A large plant in the form of a large bunch, in which oblong thin leaves are collected. Her other name is Yucca Mojave, in honor of the desert of the same name, from which she hails.
Flowers close up
White flowers are collected in inflorescences on the central shoot.
Sizaya
The gray yucca grows to 2 m in height. Long narrow leaves are collected in a rosette, painted in blue-green color with a blue tint. They grow up to 70 cm in length, the width does not exceed 12 mm. The height of the inflorescence is up to 1 m, the flowers are painted white with a cream or yellow tint.
Elephant or Elephantis
A distinctive feature of the Elephantis variety is a massive, woody stalk that resembles an elephant's foot in shape. Unlike other varieties, elephant yucca is a branching plant that does not consist of one main stem, but several.
Rosettes with leaves are located on each stem, which is why the plant looks like a tree. Each leaf at the end has a small spike. Flowering begins in the summer, the flowering stem grows up to 90 cm in height, consists of large flowers up to 5 cm in length.
Radiant (Y. radiosa)
Radiant yucca is a tall plant with a large number of leaves collected in 1 bunch. In the wild, its average size is about 6 m in height. Leaves taper in 2 directions: to the base and end of the leaf, grow up to 60 cm in length, the width does not exceed 10 mm.
Yucca Radiant
The color is blue-green with an ash tint, along the edge along the sheet is a white strip. On the side of each leaf thin threads hang abundantly. The inflorescence grows to 1.5 m in height, on top is a panicle with white buds.
High
High yucca grows to 1.5-4.5 m in height, the plant has no stems, but there is a developed ligneous trunk. The bunch consists of thin leaves of different lengths: from 25 to 90 cm, width - no more than 12 mm. Flowers are painted white with cream, sometimes with a pink tint.
Glorious
In the open ground, the yucca Slavnaya can reach 2 m in height, outwardly resembles a small tree or round bush. The central stem is well developed, branches are absent.
Nice grade
The leaves are dense and wide, the edges are covered with small teeth, a spike grows at the end. The inflorescence consists of many creamy white buds, sometimes with a lilac hue.
Short-leaved
This variety is also called a giant yucca, because in its homeland it grows up to 8-10 m in height, the trunk thickness reaches 50 cm. Branches grow on top of the central stem, on which volumetric bundles with leaves are located. The length of the leaf is 15-30 cm, the edges are jagged yellow or yellow-green, a spike will grow at the end. It requires a large amount of free land for growth.
Aloe
At the beginning of growth, the aloe-elongated yucca does not branch, only the central stem is developed in it. In adult plants, shoots and additional crowns with leaves are formed on the sides. The length of the leaves is up to 50 cm, visually and in their structure they resemble aloe leaves.
Aloe
The edges are jagged, a sharp spike grows at the end. The flowering part is small, up to 50 cm high, white buds with a slight purple tint. Aloeelistic yucca grows very slowly.
Trekul
A distinctive feature of this variety is slow growth and unpretentiousness in care, a yucca easily takes root in the room and on the site. Leaves linear blue-green hue, collected in a large bunch. It blooms every year, white buds have a light purple hue. Yucca Trekulya is not so common in comparison with other plant varieties.
Filamentous
Note! One of the most common varieties is yucca filamentous, planting and care in the open ground are possible in regions with a warm and temperate climate. It is steady against frosts, in the spring and in the summer requires sufficient lighting.
Flat long leaves are collected in a bunch-socket, green with a blue tint. Leaves are smooth without prongs and spikes, thin threads grow along the edges. The central stem is poorly developed, the leaves grow almost from the root. Paniculate inflorescence on a stem 1-3 m high, consists of white flowers with cream or yellow tint.
Coracoid
Plants of this variety grow in the form of a tree or palm, their height can exceed 3-4 m. In adult plants, the massive central trunk can branch, a bunch of foliage will grow at the end of each stem. Thick, narrow leaves are painted green with a blue tint, their length is from 30 to 70 cm.
The foliage is stiff, to the touch resembles rough skin, threads hang on the edges. Flowers can grow up to 6-7 cm in length, are collected in inflorescences, panicles.
South
In its homeland, the Southern Yucca grows to 8-10 m in height, its other name is nitrous. Growing is possible only in open ground, the plant requires a large amount of free space.
Yucca bloom
Leaves can grow up to 1.2 m in length, thin threads grow on the sides.
Kopstek
In a young plant, the main trunk is poorly developed, the leaves begin to grow from the base. Yucca Kopstek differs from other varieties in bright emerald color, the leaves are smooth and wide. Often this variety is grown as a houseplant, but it easily takes root in open soil.
Transplant after purchase in open ground
Yucca is planted in the open ground in spring until the active growth of new leaves begins. There is no exact date for planting, the main condition is that during 5-10 days the temperature at night should be above + 12 ° C, without sudden changes. Autumn planting is not recommended - the plant does not have time to take root before frost.
What you need for landing
The plant is well established on open land, for planting does not need a large amount of equipment. Before you plant a yucca on the street, you need to prepare:
- Plant. For planting, a yucca grown in a flowerpot, or a stalk with roots, is suitable. Everyone chooses which variety to plant, but it should be designed for planting in open soil;
- Humus;
- A bucket of sand, if the earth is dense or clay;
- A bucket of water;
- Drainage. You can use gravel or any other;
- Humus, if the plant is planted in infertile soil.
Important! It is not recommended to plant the plant on the site immediately after purchase. Yucca should get used to the air temperature, the first 3-5 days should be taken out to the street and left for several hours. She should spend another 3-5 days in the open air for 4-6 hours, after which she can be planted.
Optimal place
The birthplace of this plant is a desert with an arid climate, yucca does not like excess moisture. On a garden plot with a heterogeneous relief, it is better to find a high place - water accumulates and stagnates in the lowlands. The selected place should not be blown, the thermophilic plant does not tolerate strong drafts.
Desert plant
The soil for yucca should be loose, nutritious and fertile. Heavy loams are not suitable for planting; best of all, yucca takes root in light and loose soils. If there is no other land, heavy and dense soil is mixed with sand.
Some yucca varieties grow to a considerable size and require more free space. It is undesirable to plant a yucca in a flower bed with other flowers.
Note! Yucca blooms when it grows in open and well-lit areas.
Step-by-step landing process
Before planting, it is necessary to inspect the root system, remove dried or rotted areas. How to plant a yucca:
- It is necessary to prepare a site for planting, dig the ground and remove large branches and weeds from it;
- Dig a hole, in size it should be 2-3 times larger than the rhizome of the plant;
- At the bottom of the pit, 3-4 cm of the drainage layer is laid out;
- Prepared and aged in air, the plant is placed in a pit, the roots are straightened;
- Dense earth must be mixed with sand, add humus;
- The pit is filled with harvested earth and compacted by hand. It is important to ensure that the yucca stands upright and does not fall over;
- The planted plant is poured with 1-2 buckets of water, depending on its size. The soil must be moist so that the roots take root. Water should not be poured out immediately, but in small portions, so that it can be absorbed into the ground;
- At the base of the yucca, the soil is mulched with branches or sawdust.
Potted on the street
In the Urals and Siberia, the plant does not take root in open ground due to a lack of heat and sunlight. In this case, yucca is used as a home plant. On warm days, the flower pot can be taken out into the open air or dug in the ground.
Note! If the plant was planted in the wrong place, you can transplant it only after 3 years.
Yucca Care
A plant such as garden yucca is increasingly found in garden plots, planting and further care include watering, top dressing and pruning of shrubs.
Watering mode
Yucca grows well in arid climates, so it does not require much fluid. Irrigation mode changes depending on the air temperature. At 17-22 ° C, the plant is watered once every 10 days, at a temperature above 25 ° C, watering is carried out once a week. Water is poured at the base of the stem, it should not fall on the crown. To prevent the leaves from drying out, spray the yucca with water from a spray bottle.
Important! The plant is sprayed in the morning or in the evening, at lunchtime on the leaves may appear burns from direct sunlight.
Top dressing
A young plant is fed with mineral fertilizers 2 times during the season: before and after flowering. Compounds based on nitrogen and phosphorus are suitable for plants. In the 3rd year, the root system is finally formed, and organic fertilizers can be introduced. Before and after flowering, the yucca needs to be fed with compost or humus diluted with water.
In early summer, it is necessary to sprinkle the upper layer of earth around the base of the plant 100-200 g of superphosphate - this will help to accelerate growth.
During flowering
The plant blooms from May to June, at which time it needs moderate watering and enough light. You must look after the land in which the yucca grows. When the soil is compacted, it needs to be loosened - this will improve air exchange and prevent moisture accumulation. Weeds are regularly weeded from the ground, and fallen leaves are removed.
Note! If you do not trim dry foliage for a long time, over time it will cover the trunk of the plant and will serve as protection in the winter. Stems covered with a "fur coat" of dry leaves, outwardly resemble a palm tree.
During rest
Early spring care for yucca includes crown formation, pruning of dry foliage and damaged shoots in branched varieties. At the end of the season, the dried inflorescence needs to be cut.
An adult yucca is periodically rejuvenated, completely cutting off the top with leaves. The slice is treated with an antifungal agent and sprinkled with charcoal powder. Later, new leaves will grow on this place. A cut off rosette can be used for propagation; in spring, a yucca can be planted.
Winter preparations
One of the most frequently asked questions by novice gardeners is "Why is yucca not blooming?" The main reason for the lack of flowers is an improper wintering. Yucca street tolerates frost well up to -25 ° C, if the winter is snowy. If the winter is cold and without snow, you must definitely cover the yucca. How to do it:
- At the base of the plant, the soil is covered with 3-4 cm of sawdust or peat, it is also possible to cover the ground with agrofiber;
Shelter for the winter
- In November, before the frosts begin, the yucca leaves are lifted up and pressed to the trunk, wrapped in a circle with a rope;
- The plant is wrapped with a dense fabric or agrofibre along its entire length. Cover the top with a cardboard box without a bottom - it will serve as protection from the wind. If there is no box, on 4 sides the plant is covered with sheets of cardboard, fiberboard or boards. The internal space should be covered with dry leaves or sawdust;
- The whole structure is covered with a film, at the bottom it needs to be fixed with pegs or crushed with stones.
Note! You should not overly protect the yucca from frost if the winter is not cold, and there are often thaws. Being in a humid environment, the sheltered plant begins to rot.
Yucca is an ornamental plant native to hot countries, which could take root not only in the gardens of the Moscow Region, but also in the northern regions. Previously, it adorned the palace gardens, today everyone can independently plant an exotic plant in the country. A blooming yucca in a small garden attracts attention, you want to admire it and show it to all your friends.
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