yucca

Category: garden plans and adventures | Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 3:35 am

Well, today the helpful hubby removed a yucca from the back yard. It had evil spines which I impaled my finger on one day. It made a horriblble icky bruise where it punctured a vein or something. It REALLY hurt. So, from that day I knew that plant didnt belong in a yard with my toddler or any other child frolicing about that might run into it. So, it was dug up leaving the back yard empty.
The previous owners werent much into plants, they did however leave the tag from the nursery on it so I now know its a spanish bayonet yucca.
Right, so maybe there was a little carnage, husband digging and the brandishing of the axe over this poorly thought out single planting right up next to the house.
I never like to remove plants, I feel guilty. There was a surprise though underneath, the yucca had over a dozen new shoots or suckers. I took those and am going to plant them either as a barrier or just ornamental here and there in the beds I'm considering.
I've been thinking of doing a cactus bed. Since we are in a drought, what a great idea to work on! Assorted yuccas mixed with prickly pear maybe?
I'm not sure what other varieties there are, suggestions are welcome!
Which reminds me, I have a recovering orchid or night blooming cactus I've dragged around in a pot through 3 residences. Its almost like an arm, I've taken that plant everywhere, I cant live without it. ;} It might do alright here in the ground with a little blanket on the handful of freezing weather days.

Ack I left my camera downstairs. I'll add the pics of my little yucca buds later. :}

*edited to add pics :] *
here"s the only pic I ever took of the back yard before the removal, theres the mean 'ol plant in the bottom left.

here is the collection of lil suckers.

and here, a better look at the green shoots.

Last edited: Mon Jun 26, 2006 7:01 am

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eileen wrote on Sun Jun 25, 2006 10:34 am:

Looking forward to you pictures Prairiefeather!! I thought you might like to see this website as it has loads of pics of cacti.

http://helios.bto.ed.ac.uk/bto/desertecology/cactgall.htm

Sounds as though you're going to be busy setting up that new area in your garden. Keep us updated.

Gardenstew wrote on Sun Jun 25, 2006 10:46 am:

It's a good sign that you felt guilty about ripping up the Yucca prairefeather, it proves you care :) But I imagine you don't feel guilty about ripping up weeds now, do you? :D

glendann wrote on Sun Jun 25, 2006 4:18 pm:

I'll be waiting on the pictures .Sounds like you had a fight with a plant kinda like I did.It was a Mescail (Sp) plant .They really hurt and can put you in the hospital.

Pianolady wrote on Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:02 pm:

Don't feel guilty about digging up the yucca, I've been digging it up for a couple years now, and it keep coming back! Any root you missed will grow back, and they put down one heck of a tap root. Make sure you really want them where you plant them!

aloes wrote on Sun Jun 25, 2006 6:02 pm:

eeek you nearly got killed by the yucca and now you plan on cacti...tzz tzzz. Go for cacti with soft thorns with the toddlers. The thorns have hooks and they break off inside the flesh. It takes a very long time for the body to disolve those thorns. My husband had a finger with some thorns in it for more than 6 years! They tried to get it out operating but the doctor was not keen as he said at least it was in the finger, it might go anywhere else if dislodged. Have your cacti, but choose carefully. sorry to spoil your fun, but why should we suffer alone ;-D

prairiefeather wrote on Mon Jun 26, 2006 7:12 am:

For clarity's sake my plans for a cactus garden, or a border with the yucca is no where near the back yard. Only on the perimeter of the property next to the road. I've considered it might be a good deterent for the irresponsible neighbor's dogs that run loose. heh. No, I am not one to plant more prickly plants unless they are far far out of range of a main thoroughfare.

ooh, and thanks for the cactus link eileen!