THE YUCCAS— AS HARDY ORNAMENTAL PLANTS. 



woody stem or trunk, clothed with leaves almost to the ground. The end of each leaf is 

 terminated by a dark spine, which has given rise to the popular name of " Adam's Nee- 

 dle." The leaves are broad, stiff, and dark green, and have much of the picturesque ef- 

 fect of those of the Aloe. The flower stalk is generally about four feet high, branching 

 out symmetricallj'' on every side, (see fig. from Jlrh. Brit.,') but in strong plants is fre- 

 quently much higher than a man's head. The blossoms, Avhich open in July and August, 

 are bell shaped, pale white within, marked by a pale purple stripe on the outside of the 

 petals. 



The Adams' Needle is a native of both North and South America, being found wild as 

 far north as Virginia, and as far south as Carthagena. Though not growing naturally, 

 farther north than the former state, it is perfectly hardy as far north as Lake Erie — or 

 wherever the peach ripiens regularly. About Washington, we have noticed it in the fine 

 pleasure grounds of Wm. Stone, Esq., growing most luxuriantly, springing up and flow- 

 ering along the sides of the garden walks, with little or no care. About New-York it suc- 

 ceeds best in a perfectly dry subsoil — a deep sandy loam. Where it needs any protection, 

 it is only that of a few branches of evergreens to keep ofl" the sun. There is a variety of 

 V. gloriosa called superba — rather rarely seen, even in our best collections, which is still 

 finer — being of taller and more tree-like growth, and bearing a greater profusion of pure 

 white flowers. 



II. Yucca filamentosa, or J^dam's Thread. — This variety differs mainly from the 

 former, in having no spines at the ends of the leaves, but instead, the foliage is irregularly 

 serrated, and edged with long threads, which hang down two or three inches long. The 

 same popular notion which coupled the idea of Adam's Needle with the thorn at the end 

 of the leaves of Y. gloriosa, has found a corresponding thread on the leaves of this spe- 

 cies. It is a native of Virginia; has stood many winters perfectly uninjured in the open 

 borders of our garden on the Hudson. Its growth, however, seems slower, and it produ- 

 ces flowers more rarely than the Adam's Needle. Still, as both the foliage and flowers 

 are quite ornamental, it is worthy of a place in every good garden. It flowers in Septem- 

 ter, the blossoms being whiter, and growing more closely to the stalk, than those of Y. 

 gloriosa. 



III. Yucca flaccida, or the free blooming Yucca. — This is one of the most popular, 

 and commonly cultivated sorts in our gardens — growing and blooming with as much ease 

 as a cabbage. It is a native of Georgia — but is as hardy as an oak all over the northern 

 states. The specific name, flaccida, is given from the greater pliancy of the leaves, which, 

 instead of being perfectly stiff, like some of the other species, are a little weak, and fre- 

 quently bend in the middle. This species has no stem or trunk, and the reader may get a 

 good general idea of its appearance when in bloom, by imagining the foregoing figure 

 of Y. gloriosa, with the foliage springing directly out of the ground — the leaves, however, 

 being narrower, and more numerous, and the flower stem about half the height. There 

 are slender threads along the edges of the leaves. This Yucca blooms in our northern 

 gardens as freely as the common white lilly — throwing up its beautiful pyramidal flower 

 stalks, two or three feet high, about the end of June, and bearing a profusion of fine milk- 

 white flowers, all the month of July. It is one of our favorite evergreen plants, beautiful 

 at all seasons. 



IV. Yucca angustifolia, the Narrow Leaved Yucca. — A fine hardy species, found 

 by NuTTALL on the banks of the Missouri — and grows and blooms in our gardens 



ingly well. The foliage is long and narrow, edged with threads, and quite 

 leaves spring out of the ground without a stem, like those of the last variety 



