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Yucca? from Los Angeles (California)

jose.fernandezjose.fernandez Posts: 6
in Plants
Hi everybody. This is my first message in this page. I found it looking for plant identification pages so I'm trying to identify what I think is a Yucca species, although I can be wrong.

I'm from Madrid (Spain), but the picture of the plant was taken this summer during my holidays in the West Coast of the USA.

Any suggestion will be wellcome.


Los Angeles (California), 1/9/18 (1st. september) Regards,

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Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    There are 40+ yuccas species so good luck with the search.   Some are bushy and squat and some grow stems as they age.  The few I've seen usually have much smoother browner stems than in your photo but that doesn't mean it isn't one.

    Have a look at this site and see if any of these may be it -
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/Search-Results?query=yucca 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • jose.fernandezjose.fernandez Posts: 6
    Thanks Obelixx, but I'm afraid I have already checked all the valid Yucca's species in The Plant List with no success at all.
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    @jose.fernandez Try the Houzz California Gardening Forum, they should be able to help you..  there is also a Name That Plant forum on there as well..
    East Anglia, England
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Looks like Yucca brevifolia. the Joshua tree, that has had the old leaves trimmed. In the wild they look shaggier.
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    The more I look at the picture , the more inclined to think it 'may' be Y.elephantipes .
    Grown as a rather lax and anaemic looking houseplant in northern latitudes ; outdoors in sunnier climes they make very robust specimens , looking completely different to those grown indoors .
    Smooth stems on Yuccas are the result of natural shedding ; the trunks here indicate the older yellowing leaves have been painstakingly removed by cutting off as near to the stem as possible .
    Not a particularly attractive specimen either way , right or wrong !
  • jose.fernandezjose.fernandez Posts: 6
    Thanks Marlorena. I've already posted my question there. I let you know if I get an identification.
  • jose.fernandezjose.fernandez Posts: 6

    Thanks fidgetbones and Paul B3.

    I'd dismiss Yucca brevifolia. The leaves are different, more rigid and narrow.

    The leaves in Yucca elephantipes looks very alike, but it's the shape of the trunk that doesn't fit well. Yucca elephantipes trunk use to have a bulbous base, and this specimen has a very straight and regular one.

    In any case I think is closer to Yucca elephantipes than to Y. brevifolia.

  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    As an afterthought ; there are around 50 recognised species of Yucca , plus numerous hybrids apparently (!) .
    Would it be possible for it to be one of these ?
  • jose.fernandezjose.fernandez Posts: 6
    In fact, I think it's the most plausible option, but we'd need an expert on the Yucca genus or someone who knows the specific species for being sure.
  • MarlorenaMarlorena Posts: 8,705
    edited November 2018
    @jose.fernandez 

    I'm sorry you did not have too many replies on the California forum, I think with all the problems there now with wildfires, it's not so active at the moment - they have other things to worry about...

    Here is another UK forum - if I'm allowed to post this - that I think would be able to help you more with this question, as they are really very good with tropical plants in general, including Yuccas..  some of them do appear to be 'experts' in the field, or in the trade..

    There are 3 forums there you could post your question on..
    https://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=131&t=22489 

    ..this one is specific to Yuccas and other succulents..
    https://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=108
    East Anglia, England
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