Unidentified growing object

Discussion in 'Plants: Identification' started by neoflora, Apr 20, 2006.

  1. neoflora

    neoflora Member

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    Three years ago I planted a palm-like plant (yucca-like?) in my yard in Sacramento. It had been in a pot and was not quite a foot high. I was told it was a slow grower, since it had been in the pot for 10 years. Now (3 years later) it is around 12 feet tall and is quite dramatic looking. It has one relatively slender trunk, which has turned woody. The leaves grow out in a pattern reminiscent of a pineapple top, and they are long (1-2 ft) and slender (1-1/2 in), the color of green olives with yellow spots/speckles scattered throughout. At the top, the leaves grow straight up, and the leaves below fan out and down in an umbrella shape. Today I noticed that it appears to be budding; there are asparagus-head-like projections growing out of the top center of the tree. I've tried to find a picture of this, with no success. Any ideas what this might be? I'd like to know how much taller/bigger it is likely to get.
     
  2. Ginger Blue

    Ginger Blue Active Member

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    Look up Agave and see if the pictures ring any bells.
     
  3. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    You didn't specify whether the leaves are only at the base of the plant, or at the top of the stem. If growing at the top, another plant to consider might be Yucca.
     
  4. neoflora

    neoflora Member

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    The leaves are at the top of the stem. I was checking out yuccas on line; this plant has soft, flexible leaves, not stiff or spiny. No prickly ends. I will post some pictures when I figure out how to load to the computer. Thanks for your input.
     
  5. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Cordyline australis.
     
  6. neoflora

    neoflora Member

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    Cordyline australis looks quite exotic! Unfortunatley, it is not my plant. I fear my description is not adequate. So, I do have some pictures, not the best quality, which I will post shortly. Thanks for your help!
     
  7. neoflora

    neoflora Member

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    Attempting to attach pictures---Actually, this may well be cordyline australis, as suggested before.
     

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  8. neoflora

    neoflora Member

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    Ron B - Amazing that you identified it without any pictures. I sent the attached picture to a friend, who ran it by someone on Dave's Garden, and he came up with the same identification, although he said it looked like my plant had a slight case of malnutrition (lack of potassium), resulting in the speckled leaves. Thanks!
     

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