Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora)

Red Yucca
Hesperaloe parviflora

Ripe seedpod ready for the black seeds to be dispersed in January. The seeds in the upper chamber have been dispersed.(San Antonio, Tx.)

Does this mean I am going to get some, Hazel? The pods are interesting looking. Wonder if birds care for the seeds...
Susan

Susan, I gathered the seeds from this plant right after you had requested some but I took a photo first because the seedpods are so great looking. The seedpods were formed from the blooms that I had photograped and posted earlier in the year. The seeds are flat. I don't know if birds like them, but they look good to me. By the way, did you post bomments on the paperwhites and the bluebonnet photos? I keep getting a message that says there are comments, but nothing is there.

This message was edited Saturday, Jan 24th 7:28 AM

No, not me (yet) on those two pics. Give it a little time, I guess. I started some selaginella slips and crossandra for you. (Don't feel you need to do the same, I have a greenhouse, remember. I enjoy propagating plants. It may be necessary to remove most of the rooting medium when I ship, though.) I am also sowing seeds of a yellow flowering crossandra this year. If I get several, do you want one?
Susan

The message that I have comments on these threads has been appearing since yesterday. This is a little weird. I wish I had a greenhouse. I love to propagate plants and I could also save a lot of money by overwintering more of the cold tender ones and starting annuals from seeds instead of buying transplants. I have not had much luck with crossandra. I think I probably have not found the right spot for them in my yard. Yes, send me one of the yellow and I'll try again. Tell me a little bit about keeping them alive.

They like to stay above 60 degrees to look good, and they enjoy a lot of heat, humidity, and part shade in summer to bloom prolifically. I cut mine back pretty hard in spring, since it blooms on new growth. The plant I have is a third generation cutting from a seedling a gathered in Lake Wales, FL. The plants there had frozen back to the ground in a 28 degree spell, but were rebounding nicely from the roots. The leaves are usually very deep green, but in the winter they sometimes yellow a little due to lower temps (50 in GH). They root very easily. If you set one out for the summer, and like it, take a couple of cuttings in the fall for insurance. They should make it in an Eastern windowsill and not need carted in and out. Hope this helps a little.

I had one in too much sun the first time. Then, the second one I tried in full shade. They both died. Now, I will try one in filtered sun. Thanks for the information about taking care of them.

My house is very dark all year long. The east side of my house has deep shade so it is very dark inside as is the north side. The west side has no windows at all and the south side has only one small window that receives an appropriate amount of light for plants to be sustained. It goes all the way to the floor almost. The dogs constantly look out of this one so I can't place plants there. That's my big problem. I have no where to put plants in the winter where they will receive enough light. So I have to take the plants back out of the house after a freeze within a few days or they become very sick due to lack of light.

That's too bad. I don't get enough light, either, but more than you do, I guess. I think you need an attached greenhouse. Mine is freestanding and so I don't get to enjoy the plants as much as I would if it were attached. It is also more expensive to heat. It is only 10 x 12.5 feet, so it is never big enough either. I would like a big sunroom on the house, but we have way too many large trees that drop dead limbs down...would break any glazing on top, I am sure.

An attached greenhouse would be really nice, but I really have no place to attach one. My yard is so small inside of my fence, I really don't have a place for a greenhouse even.

You are better off without one, I guess. I barely got any sleep last night...the power went off and I was out in the dark assembling a new propane heater to keep the plants from freezing (otherwise I use electric). Luckily, it was not terribly cold and the power came back on after about 3 hours. I am like an alcoholic, only my weakness is plants...I joined our local garden club several years ago and told them I thought the name (Gardeners Anonymous) meant that they would help me break this bad addiction!

Something is still wrong with Dave's Garden. I uploaded a picture of Helichrysum augustifolium yesterday and it posted at the plant detail site, but not on the newsletter. Same thing happened with poison ivy the other day. I am just not making the news! No big loss, I'm sure.

This message was edited Jan 26, 2004 1:30 PM

I'm up watching the temperature fall ... looks like it will drop into the upper 20s tonight. Guess I'll have to bring in the plants that I just put out to receive some sun and water. You sound like me. Always trying to save our beloved plants. My husband sometimes thinks that I love them more than him. But, guess what. He has helped me bring them in the last 2 times. These are the first times in 20 years he has ever taken an interest in them to the extent that he cares about seeing to it that they don't freeze. He is even asking me the names of the plants now. Miracles do happen. I enjoyed your comment about Gardeners Anonymous.

The Helichrysum augustifolium photo is really cool ... get it cool, ice... oh, well something happens to me at this time of night. I tend to become a little wacky. The poison ivy vine is so huge. I have never seen one the large. I think these are great postings. I hope that the problems affecting the PDB are soon solved. Sometimes I only have time to view the newsletter and if the new postings are not shown, then I miss them. Thanks for telling me about these 2 postings. I would have missed them otherwise.

HI HTOP, DO YOU HAVE ANY MORE SEEDS, IF SO I WOULD LIKE TO BUY SOME FROM YOU PLEASE.
YOU CAN E-MAIL ME BACK AT
westdw@planters.net
THANKS
DEBRA

Hi,
Thank's for letting me know about the seeds. How much do you want for a few? Or I have some NATIVE SWEET GRASS,that is very hard to find, I will trade with you if you like.Just let me know, if so I need your address.
Again many thank's!
spirithorse
DEBRA T. WEST
523 MILLEN & HILTONIA RD.
SYLVANIA GA. 30467

if anyone else wants any, i have tons for trade or sase- lmk! :) im talking...TONS!!

spirithorse, is the sweet grass that you have the sweet grass used by Native Americans for braiding and burned in purification ceremonies? If it is, it has become very rare.

Hi, Yes it is the NATIVE SWEET GRASS USED BY NATIVE AMERICAN. I study NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY and try to grow all the PLANTS they used. As my Great-grandmother on my Father side was full CHEROKEE.The grass has died down for the winter, but if you like I could send you the root, it will come out in the spring.
Many thanks
spirithorse
Debra

How tall does it grow?

Hi again, It get's about 8" to 12", but it lay's over, you braid it while it is green, this way it keeps it's sent. You will have to have a good size place for it, as it spread's alot. I love it, you can walk in my yard any time of the day and smell it.
spirithorse
Debra

I would like to try growing it, but I do not have a large area in which to plant it. I did some research and several sites stated that it can be growwn in shallow containers. I was afraid that it would not grow here in San Antonio, Tx. because of the heat, but I think it will do okay in morning sun and afternoon shade. My neice and brother could plant it on their land if it needs more space. I am part Native American myself (I have one room in my house that is my Native American room) and would feel honored to be able to grow this sacred plant. One description states that "individual plants may be among the oldest living organisms on the planet perhaps 100,000 to millions of years old, making them nearly immortal."

http://www.ecoseeds.com/sweetgrass.html

I will email you my address the day I send you the yucca seeds.

Hi HTOP, I will be glad to send you the SWEET GRASS, just send me your address. And thanks for the seeds.
Many thanks
spirithorse

I also think it will do just great in Texas, as where I live it gets very very hot here too.