COLD HARDY PLANTS
Growers and Breeders of Unusual Cold Hardy Plants
 

Yucca baccata v. thornberi (Nogales, AZ) 
Quantity of plants tested: 6
Size of plant tested: 1st year seedlings which had leaves to 12" by November 2000.
Soil texture: loam, a little sand was incorporated in the top 3" of the loam.
When planted: the seedling were planted in the ground in June 2000.
Winter protection: None.
Microclimate: Planted in a cold microclimate.  No sun from mid Nov. early Feb.  Other plants had no sun from early Nov. through mid March.
Temperature: refer to 2000-2001 winter on this chart
Findings: all the plants died?  3 of 6 pulled out of the ground when tugged on.  This would suggest death from rot.  All plants are 100% burned with no sign of life.  This was the first species of Yucca to have its leaves turn brown.
yucca_baccata_thornberi.jpg (93425 bytes) September 4, 2000 - Here are two seedlings which were started in May 2000.
yucca_baccata_thornberi_2.jpg (91973 bytes) February 4, 2001 - This plant is located in a cold microclimate area.  This species of Yucca performed the worst of all the Yuccas in this years test (leaves turned yellow first).  Our low has been 5F so far without snow cover.
yucca_baccata_thornberi_3.jpg (84736 bytes) February 18, 2001 - The plants are failing fast  They were snow covered from Dec. 30 through Jan. 31 and from Feb. 5 through Feb. 12 and more in late Feb and March.  Our low has been 5F so far without snow cover.
yucca_baccata_thornberi_4.jpg (84387 bytes) April 4, 2001 - The plants are totally yellow now.  The low temperature without snow cover has been 4F.  We had approximately 50"+ of snow this year including a late 5-6" snow storm during the last week of March.  The first 7 days of March had high temperatures 32F or lower (record).
yucca_baccata_thornberi_092701.jpg (54004 bytes) September 27, 2001 - Here's the status of the sole survivor from the 2000-2001 winter.  It started off fast in May but really didn't grow much until late August again.



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