Yucca Rostrata

Yucca Rostrata is a native desert plant that needs very little water and a lot of sun to survive. It doesn't normally split into two heads but it is very pretty as such.

This is the second time that our yucca has bloomed in the 3 years that we have owned it. The blooms begin as stalks that come out from the center of the spray of needles. Slowly, the buds separate from the stalk and finally the buds open to a huge display of flower petals.

The entire process lasts around 3 to 4 weeks. When you think it's finished blooming, a little more bloom appears. Afterwards, the petals shower around the base of the plant and fill space within the spray of needles. Good luck on cleaning the petals out of the needles. I just leave them there!

Yuccas are in the lily family or Liliaceae. They are a desert plant and this one is commonly called Beaked Yucca. It needs well-drained soil, full sun and very little water. It could reach up to 12 feet high. Mine is 6 feet high so far! If anyone can tell me why the ends of the "leaves" are brown, I would appreciate it. I was wondering if the heat from the block wall wasn't so good an influence. Or, could it be that it gets the wrong amount of water? For more information on this plant, go to the "Backyard Activity" entry of this blog.

Note from 7/20/09: After writing the local paper plant guy, Linn Mills, I have learned that my Yucca is not getting enough water to push away the salts in the soil around the root ball. The salts draw water from the plant and leave it in a stressful situation. So, he recommended more water; more often and longer. Thanks Mr. Mills.