Yucca is considered one of the spectacular and interesting plants grown in the garden. It is noteworthy that it can be planted not only in open areas, but also at home, the main thing is to create a comfortable microclimate and select a spacious flowerpot. The second name of the perennial and evergreen plant is the tree of happiness. There are over 40 varieties of yucca, each different in both shape and color.
Yucca in the garden and at home: advantages and disadvantages of the flower
Among the positive characteristics of yucca, experienced gardeners highlight:
- high decorative qualities;
- does not lose its attractive appearance throughout the year;
- possibility of use for landscape design, landscaping of offices, living rooms;
- beneficial effect on the indoor atmosphere;
- beneficial properties (used both in folk medicine and in industry);
- lush flowering;
- unpretentiousness to growing conditions;
- does not require special skills.
But yucca also has its drawbacks:
- thorniness of leaf blades;
- rare flowering;
- tallness;
- may cause stomach upset if ingested in its pure form;
- there is a possibility of developing allergic reactions.
Yucca, despite some disadvantages, still remains one of the original decorations for home and garden. The main thing is not to place it in bedrooms and children's rooms, and place it out of reach of children.
The best varieties with descriptions and characteristics
The following varieties of evergreen yucca are very popular among gardeners:
Schidigera schidigera
A distinctive feature of the bush is its voluminous rosette, consisting of long leaf plates. White bell-shaped flowers are placed on a powerful shoot-peduncle. The color of the sword-shaped leaves is dark green, they are quite hard, and on adult bushes they are found only at the top.
Yucca Schidigera does not have an intensive growth rate; it is actively used as a raw material for the manufacture of medications. Thanks to its beneficial components, the plant normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and improves immunity..
Gray
This representative of the yucca reaches a height of two meters. The plant is native to the west coast of the United States.The length of the bluish-green leaf blades is 35-65 centimeters, the color on the edges is either white or gray; the fibers that peel off over time make the bush even more attractive. The leaves are collected in dense rosettes.
The flowering phase of yucca occurs in the summer, the color of the bell-shaped flowers is white-green, but there are also specimens with a yellow color.
Ivory or Elephantis
Yucca is a fairly popular species for home keeping; in addition, it is widely used in alternative medicine. Its juice is especially valued and is used as a raw material for the production of hormonal products. And rigid sheet plates are used to produce strong ropes.
Yucca Elephant has a tree-like stem, at the top of which a strong branching of fibrous leaf plates of light green color is formed. Yucca pleases with white flowers with an interesting yellow border.
Radiant (Y. radiosa)
In a natural environment, the height of the tree reaches 6-7 meters, in indoor conditions - up to 1.5 meters. The exotic plant attracts attention with its long leaf plates (50-60 centimeters), collected in a dense bunch. Their width is only 1 centimeter.
Radiant yucca does not require special conditions for growth; rare watering and infrequent feeding procedures are enough for it. The only thing is that it cannot be placed in direct sunlight; it is better to place the pot on the windowsill of a window with an eastern or western orientation.
High
This relatively small perennial plant can be presented as a shrub or tree 1.2-4.5 meters high. The length of thin leaf plates is 25-95 centimeters, and their width is only 0.2-1.3 centimeters.Over time, they lose their natural color and become yellow and drooping.
The height of the peduncle is 1-2 meters, the color of the bell-shaped flowers is creamy-white with a green or pink tint. The dimensions of dry boxes are 4-8 centimeters in length. Yucca grows in the southern United States and northern Mexico.
Glorious
This type of yucca is positioned as relatively low, growing up to three meters. Its growth rate is quite slow. Narrow leaf blades with a leathery surface are distinguished by their green color and curved shape along the central vein. The leaf rosette turns out to be very lush. In young plants, a rosette of leaves forms near the root, and already mature specimens form a strong trunk.
Shortleaf
The tree-like yucca is distinguished by its gigantic size and grows in Arizona and southern California. Its height reaches 9 meters, the trunk in diameter is 50 centimeters. Branching of the plant begins closer to the top.
The leaves are short, only 3 centimeters, with thorns and teeth along the edges. For home growing yucca Short-leaved is not suitable due to its tallness. It prefers to grow in well-lit clearings; it does not need frequent and abundant watering. Blooms with pale yellow flowers.
Aloe leaf
Yucca of this variety is in particular demand among flower growers; it has no side shoots, all energy is directed towards a powerful trunk. The plant is found in the south of North America, Jamaica, Bermuda, where it can exist without frequent watering and is not afraid of dry weather. In nature, the height of yucca reaches 8 meters.
The ornamental plant is distinguished by its tree-like shape and spherical crown.The leaf blades are hard, dark green, and the rosette forms dense and beautiful. There are teeth on the edges and one spike at the tip. In summer, yucca surprises with creamy white flowers with a purple tint.
Trekulya
The South American guest has tree-like stems that are almost not prone to branching, but the crown is quite lush due to dense rosettes of leaf plates. They are colored bluish-green, have pointed ends, and a leathery surface. The shape of the leaves is triangular, there is a curve in their thin part.
The inflorescences consist of creamy-white flowers. Yucca Trekulya fits perfectly into any flower arrangement. But it is best to grow it indoors; in addition, it has healing properties.
filamentous
The distribution area of yucca filamentosa is the south of Russia, Crimea and the Caucasus. It grows in open areas and can winter without additional shelter. If you plant it in central Russia, then it needs protection for the winter.
The plant has no stem and grows as a bush. Yucca attracts attention with its bluish-green leaf plates; white or yellow stripes are also clearly visible on them. The plates reach 70 centimeters in length and 4 centimeters in width. There are numerous white threads along the edges. On a peduncle, the height of which is 1 meter, yellowish-white flowers are formed.
Coracoid
This variety of yucca is also known as Rostrata. This rather spectacular tree forms a thick palm-shaped trunk; traces of dead leaf plates are clearly visible on it. At its top a very beautiful rosette of elongated lanceolate leaves is formed.
Yucca Beak-shaped is especially good for decorating a spacious living room or winter garden, where it takes pride of place. If the cultivation takes place in the winter garden, the paniculate inflorescences will contain many white bells.
South
This tall plant can reach 8-10 meters, its upper part is highly branched, the trunk can be 1 meter in diameter (in adult specimens). The leaf plates are located very close to each other, they are short (up to 30 centimeters in length and 2-3 centimeters in width). Their color is dark green, there are threads along the edges.
The inflorescences consist of a large number of cream-colored flowers. They are quite branched and hanging, 1-2 meters long. The homeland of this amazing plant is Mexico.
Glorious
Yucca grows in the southeastern United States. This spherical bush grows up to two meters in height. The stem is tree-like, there are few lateral branches, but there are also single specimens. The lanceolate leaf plates have a leathery surface, bluish-green color, and are 60 centimeters long. There is a sharp thorn at the end of the leaf and teeth along the edges.
In summer, mature plantings form a rosette with a panicle-shaped inflorescence, which reaches a height of almost 250 centimeters. Flowers are produced in large numbers, their size is 5 centimeters, the color is cream with a purple tint.
Copstack
The variety is compact in size, its height is 1.5 meters, the color of the drooping leaf blades is bright green. Unlike other varieties, they are not as tough. The rosette that forms near the root is not very splendid. The leaves completely cover the trunk, they die off from below.
The plant does not require watering or air humidity levels; it can be propagated by root division or by apical cuttings.
Yucca is an amazing luxurious plant. It can be grown in open areas and indoors without any problems..
The main thing is to choose the right variety; even a novice gardener can handle the plant, given its unpretentiousness in planting and care.
