Flowering Yucca

 X-No-Archive:Yes
This year it flowered but not last year why?
http://i55.tinypic.com/20ib5m8.jpg

 X-No-Archive:Yes
It doesn't flower every year but this year it has:
http://i56.tinypic.com/ixh405.jpg

 On Thu, 29 Sep 2011 06:50:47 -0700 (PDT), Judith in France


Mine flowered once and produced one fruit after about ten years. Then
it died. I don't know if that is normal. Lets hope not. Mine had long
flowering stems.

Steve

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I don't know enough about it, Steve but I think some are monocarpic.  
But Judith's is just having a fit of the sulks.  ;-)
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon

 I'm not aware of any of the Yuccas being truly monocarpic although it
is just about possible that a very weak plant might flower, attempt to
set seed and then die.  Generally, Yuccas will not flower until they
are mature and have built up sufficient reserves.   Many Yuccas
(certainly those most commonly grown in UK gardens) develop extensive,
subterranean, tuberous roots and rhizomes that enable them to
withstand periods of drought and regenerate if the top growth is
severely damaged.  The 'tree' Yuccas such as Y. rostrata,
linearifolia, brevifolia tend to rely upon thickened 'tap roots' and
trunks which store moisture and nutrients, but these are only grown by
enthusiasts in the UK and rarely seen.

There are several Yucca look-a-likes that can be or are monocarpic
including the related Hesperoyucca whippplei, although several of its
sub-species usually produce adventitious offsets around the dying
parent rosette.  Some years ago I was told about 'Yuccas' that had
flowered on the sea front here and then died afterwards leaving very
tall flower spikes.  It turned out they were Furcraeas, which are
monocarpic.