Yucca gigantea Lem. variegata

Common name(s): Variegated Spineless Yucca, Variegated Stick Yucca, Variegated Soft-tipped Yucca

Family: Agavaceae Subfamily: Agavoideae Synonym(s): Yucca elephantipes variegata

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington

Bark (Lower)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Bark (Upper)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Leaves

Taken by Ken Harrington

Leaves

Taken by Ken Harrington

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Cacti, Succulents, & Allies Properties

Plant Type

Evergreen Succulent, Solitary

Evergreen Succulent,

Solitary

Climate Range(s) - Habitat

Arid-Semi / Steppe, Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub, Tropical

Arid-Semi / Steppe,

Temperate Warm,

Mediterranean,

Tropical-Sub,

Tropical

Aspect Range(s)

Sun - Full, Shade - Light

Sun - Full,

Shade - Light

Habitat Range(s)

Garden, Landscape

Garden,

Landscape

Habitat Zone(s)

Garden, Landscape, Well drained

Garden,

Landscape,

Well drained

Mature Height

4-5m, 5-6m, 6-7m

4-5m,

5-6m,

6-7m

Mature Width

2.5-3m, 3-4m

2.5-3m,

3-4m

Plant Shape

Branched

Growth Rate

Moderate

Life Span

50-100yrs, 100-150yrs

50-100yrs,

100-150yrs

Leaf Properties

Leaf Colour (front)

Cream Variegated, Green, Green Light

Cream Variegated,

Green,

Green Light

Leaf Colour (back)

Cream Variegated, Green, Green Light

Cream Variegated,

Green,

Green Light

Leaf Shape(s)

Recurved

Subulate

Recurved,

Subulate

Leaf Texture (front)

Leathery

Dull , Thin

Dull,

Thin

Leaf Texture (back)

Leathery

Dull , Thin

Dull,

Thin

Leaf Length(s)

900mm-1m

Leaf Width(s)

40-50mm, 50-60mm, 60-70mm

40-50mm,

50-60mm,

60-70mm

Leaf Margin(s)

Serrate

Hard

Leaf Arrangement

Rosette

Whorled

Rosette,

Whorled

Leaf Cross Section(s)

Concave

Apice(s)

Acute Narrowly

Base(s)

Truncate

Leaf Aroma

None

Leaf Attachment

Ascending

Collar Broad

Sessile

Ascending,

Collar Broad,

Sessile

Trunk / Stem Properties

Trunk / Stem Upper Colour(s)

Grey-brown , Silver-grey

Grey-brown,

Silver-grey

Trunk / Stem Base Colour(s)

Silver-grey

Diameter / Thickness

125-150mm, 175-200mm, 200-225mm, 225-250mm, 250-275mm

125-150mm,

175-200mm,

200-225mm,

225-250mm,

250-275mm

Trunk / Stem Cross Section

Terete

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Bisexual

Flowering Time (start)

Summer Early

Flowering Time (end)

Summer Late

Colour(s)

Cream-white, White

Cream-white,

White

Aroma(s)

Sweet-moderate

Flower Shape(s)

Campanulate

Flower Size(s) Width

15-20mm, 20-25mm

15-20mm,

20-25mm

Arrangement(s)

Raceme

Terminal

Arrangement Size(s)

800-900mm

Pollinator(s)

Bees, Birds, Butterflies

Bees,

Birds,

Butterflies

Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties

Type

Bacca

Shape(s)

Globose

Orbicular

Globose,

Orbicular

Outer Colour(s)

Orange-yellow

Outer Texture

Smooth

Waxy

Smooth,

Waxy

Fleshy

Length

20-25mm

Aroma

None

Root Properties

Type

Fibrous

Tap

Fibrous,

Tap

Texture

Rough / Scabrous

Fleshy , Pliable

Fleshy,

Pliable

Colour(s)

Brown, Cream Deep

Brown,

Cream Deep

Invasiveness

Low

Soil Properties

Type(s)

Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Shaley, Stony

Loam,

Sandy-loam,

Sand,

Shaley,

Stony

pH Range(s)

Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline, Alkaline

Acid,

Slightly Acid,

Neutral,

Slightly Alkaline,

Alkaline

Condition(s)

Moist

Moist-Dry

Moist,

Moist-Dry

Fertile , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight

Waterlogging Class

W0 – Low tolerance

Watering Requirements

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering, WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering, WR7 - reduce watering during dormant period

WR4 - allow soil to dry between watering,

WR5 - soil should remain dry 4 - 5 days between watering,

WR7 - reduce watering during dormant period

Other Properties / Uses

Bee Attraction

Moderate

Bird Attraction

Fruit, Habitat, Insect, Nectar

Fruit,

Habitat,

Insect,

Nectar

Butterfly Attraction

Poor

Frog Habitat

None

Carbon Sequestration Potential

Low

Wood Density

Low < 600kg/c.m.

Coastal

2nd Line

Edible(s)

Berry, Flower

Berry,

Flower

Fire Regeneration(s)

Regrowth, Seed

Regrowth,

Seed

Fire Retarding

Good

Drought Tolerance

Good

Frost Tolerance

Moderate

Snow Tolerance

None

Smog Tolerant

Good

Indigenous Use(s)

Berry, Flower, Leaves, Roots

Berry,

Flower,

Leaves,

Roots

Landscape Use

Good

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

Dead Heading, Periodic Pruning

Dead Heading,

Periodic Pruning

Pests/Diseases

Aphid, Mealy Bug, Root Rot Fungus, Scale

Aphid,

Mealy Bug,

Root Rot Fungus,

Scale

Special Purpose(s)

Garden-Container, Cut Flowers, Fire Resistant, Fire Retarding, Floral Art, Foliage-interesting, Foliage-variegated, Garden-Cacti, Garden-Coastal, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Desert, Garden-Formal, Garden-Indoors, Garden-Informal, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Rock, Garden-Tropical, Garden-Xeriscape, Specimen, Sunny Dry, Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Windbreak

Garden-Container,

Cut Flowers,

Fire Resistant,

Fire Retarding,

Floral Art,

Foliage-interesting,

Foliage-variegated,

Garden-Cacti,

Garden-Coastal,

Garden-Courtyard,

Garden-Desert,

Garden-Formal,

Garden-Indoors,

Garden-Informal,

Garden-Mediterranean,

Garden-Rock,

Garden-Tropical,

Garden-Xeriscape,

Specimen,

Sunny Dry,

Tolerant- Rabbit's/Hares,

Tolerant-Deer,

Tolerant-Kangaroo's,

Windbreak

Vulnerability

LC - Least Concern

Wind Tolerance

Moderate Winds

Propagation

Hardwood Stem Cuttings, Offsets

General Notes

A low maintenance, large, upright small tree or shrub-like succulent that can make a grand statement as a focal point / accent plant in the garden or landscape. It is also used as an indoor plant in larger homes and commercial areas. The Yucca gives a garden or landscape a tropical, modern feel. It can be grown easily in tubs or pots inside or outside. Producing a metre long, cream - white flower spike, with edible flowers, used in salads and edible berries.

It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Propagation Notes

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Hardwood Stem Cuttings

Flowering

Dec, Jan, Feb

Cutting

Sep, Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr, May

Material Preparation

Firm to hard wood, tip (with leaf rosette) to stem (bare, truncheon) cuttings. Cutting approximately 200mm - 1m long. Make a clean cut across the bottom and if a truncheon ensure a clean cut across the top, remove lower leaves, flowers, berries from rosette leaf top . Place to one side and allow the wounds to callous and dry for 4 - 7 days.

Propagating Mix

Premium Cacti Mix

1 part Premium Potting Mix + 1 part coarse washed Sand

Treatment

Half fill the pot or tub with mix. Easiroot hormone may be used but no rooting hormone is really required. Place large cuttings in the pot or tub, fill in around the cutting and firm up mix until the cutting stands firm. Water pots or tubs thoroughly with Previcur fungicide. Place in cold house, keep moist. Maintain cold house environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock 75-95 %

Nursery Stock 90-99 %

Rooting time:- Field Stock 4 - 8 weeks

Nursery Stock 4 - 8 weeks

Offsets

Flowering

Dec, Jan, Feb

Division

Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr

Material Preparation

Select offsets that are approximately a 300mm or more in size. With a sharp knife, slice down the side of the stem of the mother plant to remove the offset with any possible roots attached or partial stem attached. Remove lower leaves to expose approximately 20 - 25mm of stem. Place to one side and allow the wound to callous for 2 - 4 days.

Propagating Mix

Premium Cacti Mix

1 part Premium Potting Soil + 1 part coarse washed Sand

Treatment

Fill the pot with mix. Using a dibber make a hole in the middle of the pot of mix a little larger than the stem. Place the offest into the pot of mix. The offset should stand firm in the mix. Water the mix thoroughly with Previcur fungicide. Place in cold house, keep moist. Maintain cold house environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock 75-95 %

Nursery Stock 90-99 %

Rooting time:- Field Stock 4 - 8 weeks

Nursery Stock 4 - 8 weeks