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Help Required
This plant was growing in abundance in the South of France and I managed to retrieve a piece that was alive from trimmings that were thrown in a ditch. The Plant appears to be very vigorous in growth as the owner of the holiday let had cut down a tremendous amount. Can any body advise on how to keep it thriving. It has survived the winter outside, with protection.
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That looks like a Yucca to me.
They survive outside in the UK as long as they have free-draining soil - they don't like their roots being cold and wet at the same time and are unlikely to need watering outside in Britain.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Looks like a Yucca to me, too. We have them all over Texas, both domesticated and wild.
I decided to risk one, and a variegated one as well, in scotland. I dont think i picked the best position for either, but the green one is fine and flowers. The variegated one survived outside 2 winters but did look peaky, so came out and prefers it in a pot.
If it's the really spiny one, with stiff leaves and a needle tip to the leaf, then it's yucca gloriosa. Will flower once mature, a beautiful spike of creamy flowers on a tall stem (that's the old flower stem in your picture), usually autumn time. Just be careful where you site it because of the leaf tips. If the leaves are softer, then it's yucca filamentosa, which doesn't get as tall and isn't quite as dangerous to bump into. Easy to grow, as said above. Good drainage is the key
H-C
Last edited: 23 March 2017 08:59:30
Thank you all for your responses, I have googled both plants and it seems it is a yucca filamentosa as the height of the plant is around four to five feet high. I have planted it in a raised bed on its own and our soil is sandy so hopefully it will flourish. I did add some compost before planting and I, rightly or wrongly, did not bury the tuber type root. I have attached a picture of the plant in our garden. Good to hear that it doesn't need a lot of water as I was going to keep it moist which may have harmed it, and I will prevent the grandchildren from the danger of the spikes.
Thanks again to everyone.
Tom
I've seen one growing and blooming on the beach at Blakeney Point, North Norfolk.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.