COLD HARDY PLANTS
Growers and Breeders of Unusual Cold Hardy Plants
 

Yucca whipplei (Tehachapi, CA) 
Quantity of plants tested: 15
Size of plant tested: 1st year seedlings which were 4" diameter 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 early Nov. through mid Feb.
Temperature: refer to 2000-2001 winter on this chart
Findings: all the plants died except two.  13 of 15 pulled out of the ground when tugged on.  This would suggest death from rot.  The entire plant pulled not just the center spear which is somewhat unusual.  One of the two survivors was planted in a warm microclimate, this one is doing great and started to grow April 7.  The other sole survivor in the cold area has about 10-20% burn.
yucca_whipplei.JPG (71662 bytes) September 4, 2000 - Here are two seedlings which were started in May 2000.
yucca_whipplei_2.jpg (30966 bytes) December 23, 2000 - This plant is located in the cold microclimate area.  The plant has some minor leaf tip burn.  Our low has been 5F so far without snow cover.
yucca_whipplei_3.jpg (49270 bytes) January 27, 2001 - This is the sole whipplei planted in the warm microclimate.  The low so far without snow cover has been 5F.  This plant has been snow covered from Dec. 30 through Jan. 8 and Jan. 21 through Jan. 25.
yucca_whipplei_4.jpg (80067 bytes) February 4, 2001 - This two are located in the cold microclimate.  The minimum temperature so far without snow cover was 5F.  The plants in this area were snow covered from Dec. 30 through Jan. 31 and Feb. 5 through 12. and more snow later in Feb and in March including a storm  the last week of March.  The plants are showing signs of failure already.
yucca_whipplei_5.jpg (67424 bytes) April 4, 2001 - This photo shows two dead ones in the cold microclimate area.  The plants pulled right out of the ground when tugged on.
yucca_whipplei_6.jpg (92058 bytes) April 4, 2001 - This photo shows one dead one and the only survivor in the cold microclimate area.  This alive one, may survive?
yucca_whipplei_7.jpg (57321 bytes) April 4, 2001 - This photo shows the one in the warm microclimate.  It appears its starting to grow when compared to the January 27 photo.
yucca_whipplei_092701.jpg (55180 bytes) September 27, 2001 - This photo shows the survivor from the cold microclimate area.  We had to relocate this plant in the spring to a new location.  It survived the transplant, so we are very happy.  It seems to be doing fine.
yucca_whipplei_2002_oct27r.jpg (74001 bytes) October 27, 2002 - here's the same plant a year later.
yucca_whipplei_2003_feb23r.jpg (70596 bytes) February 23, 2003 - here's the one in the warm microclimate area.  It is showing some burn already, not a good sign.  Low at this plant was -0.5F.
yucca_whipplei_2003_mar8r.jpg (75098 bytes) March 8, 2003 - here's the plant which survived the cold microclimate.  It too has some minor burn, it should pull through.
yucca_whipplei_mtwilson_me_2003_april5r.jpg (72754 bytes) April 5, 2003 - here's me and one of my daughter's next to some Yucca whippleis on top of Mt. Wilson, CA (Elevation 5,700ft).  It did snow a little the night before.
yucca_whipplei_3500ft_ca_flower_2003_april5r.jpg (74011 bytes) April 5, 2003 - here's another Yucca whipplei in California at a lower elevation (3,500ft or so).  The whippleis on top of Mt. Wilson were not flowering yet.  The flower stalk diameters can be to 8"......very big.



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