Hallo Sascha,

das ist wirklich ärgerlich, zumal die Frucht schon ziemlich groß ist. Meistens
fallen sie schon früher ab.

sch..ße fall, sascha

lg
johan

Y. recurvifolia 'highway 421' same pod, more erect

Hi Tim,

very interesting to see and hear this! I very much hope that at least the one fruit remains to maturity, not only because of the hybrid seeds!

I mean, it was William Trelease (1857-1945) in 'The Yucceae', 1902, who published as the first for Y. recurvifolia: "Fruit erect so far as known" (p. 45). All the others this have certainly written off from him later. He considered Y. recurvifolia as well like Y. gloriosa, as autumn-bloomer (Is Y. recurvifolia not generally an early summer bloomer?), and their fruit, apart from some rather questionable statements in Garden Journals, has never been observed to his knowledge, until Joseph Hinson Mellichamp (1829 - 1903), Bluffton, SC (where he lived after his return from Europe for the rest of his life ) who had found in the summer of 1901 cultivated plants with fruits near Charleston, SC, and he supplied this material to Trelease, who refers on these in his published description and illustration;
Plate 46. 1, Yucca gloriosa superba, fruit and cross section, natural size, cult. in Washington, D. C. (Schott); 2, Y. recurvifolia, fruit, natural size, cultivated at Bluffton, S. C. (Mellichamp, 1901).

But if I look at this photo of Mellichamp, I have my doubts that such relatively large and heavy appearing indehiscent fleshy fruits, not least for static reasons, could really stay upright when ripe. And I have the impression that, such were draped rather for the picture that way, that it only appears as if they were upright standing. Wherein imho young fruits can stand upright
certainly, but they would still hanging over with increasing weight at maturity!
I also think that this so-called Yucca gloriosa - recurvifolia complex is much more diverse than generally assumed. Presumably there is a greater number of more or less related species (probably from hybridogenous origin, including relict populations with genes from there now extinct ancestors) frequently with limited range, and there are as well true hybrids between them, and also with Y. aloifolia and various representatives of the Y. filamentosa -flaccida complex, which clonally well can endure long periods. Also naturalized undocumented hybrids of garden culture may occur, and not only since the Europeans in America!
But such latter hybrids, i.e. back crossings of hybridogenous species with dehiscent erect fruiting types may well also have upright standing, more intermediate, smaller and lighter seedpods! Also could be occur Plants which have the growth characteristics of the one parent, and the fruit characteristics from the other! To me it is in this context really very exciting and interesting, how will develop the fruit of your Yucca recurvifolia.

Take care, Jürgen

Please keep us updated!

Hallo Thomas,

Ich drück Dir meine sämtlichen grünen Daumen, dass die bis zur Reife durchhält!

Und zeig doch bitte mehr Fotos von Deiner Y. gl. stricta, insbesondere auch intime Details der Blüte! Thanx!

LG Jorge

Hi Jürgen,

I agree that gloriosa and recurvifolia are forms of hybrids between aloifolia and filamentosa/flaccida. I think someday gloriosa and recurvifolia will not be considered species. I look at the seed pods to classify as gloriosa or recurvifolia so people will know the form of the seed pod. I find it interesting that 421 survived our 2014-2015 winter so well and had erect seed pods. The other 2 gloriosa/recurvifolia forms which survived above the snow line were gloriosa/recurvifolia 'aloifolia form' and gloriosa/recurvifolia 'Tennessee form on east side of house'. 'Aloifolia form' has not produced fruit yet BUT 'Tennessee form east' produces hanging pods. So 'Tennessee form east' is likely my hardiest form which produces hanging pods. 421 is the only gloriosa/recurvifolia form I have ever seen with erect pods, even when pods are not mature.

Hallo,

ich bin auch ganz fest im Glauben, dass der Gloriosa/Recurvifolia-Komplex hängende Früchte produziert. Möglicherweise kam da eine Y. flaccida oder filamentosa in den Focus und wurde fälschlicherweise
als Y. recurvifolia klassifiziert. Kann ja sowieso keiner mehr nachvollziehen und außerdem wissen wir aus der Erfahrung, dass viele der älteren Beschreibungen mittlerweile als falsch angesehen werden müssen.

2 Früchte an y. glauca var. glauca, ich hoffe sie halten durch...

Glückwunsch Andreas! Toll anzusehen!

Jürgen,

Yes, Yucca gloriosa and recurvifolia are indeed mixed up, and there are so many forms in cultivation of which most doesn't fit into either of the species. Hopefully will the future work with DNA analysis clear thins up a little.

As Tim writes: "I think someday gloriosa and recurvifolia will not be considered species", this is probably what will happen, the various forms will be named something like "Yucca xgloriofolia" :-) But that does not help us as growers, we still want to be able to distinguish each form from each other somehow.

Benny

Hello,

Here is the first seed pods forming on my variegated hybrid Yucca flaccida x glauca:



The flowers were pollinated with pollen from Yucca angistissima ssp. kanabensis x filamentosa and with pollen from it self. The upper most flower were pollinated with Tim's "Highway 421", but it too soon to see it it has worked yet.

Benny

Hallo Benny,

ist das Ovarium grün oder weiß/gelb?

Horst!

At this stage it's difficult to see, the plant is very light green in the green part, so there are not much difference between the yellow and the green on the upper part of the flowerstalk. I will keep you informed as I can start see any significant. Benny