nature, Photography

Adam’s Needle

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There are a lot of Adam’s Needle plants in bloom right now.

This one was growing next to a parking lot fence.

They are a type of yucca plant and they do quite well in this climate.

And this one in a formal garden.

They also seem to last quite a long time while lending a very dramatic tone to a garden.

Happy Saturday.

28 thoughts on “Adam’s Needle”

      1. Their roots are tubers and look a bit like rhubarb roots, or like a long, long yam. Apparently they are edible but I don’t intend to try it. Anyway, if you leave any part of that root in the ground, a new plant will pop up. They’re tough. Have to be, I suppose, to live in a desert and also to live in my garden.

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        1. Wow – that’s tough! Yes, they would have to be as I saw them growing out in the desert when I lived in Phoenix. The roots would need to go very deep to find some moisture. They can grow to be very tall with quite a diameter, I’ve noted. I’m not interested in trying them, either!

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          4. I just poked around and here’s what I found:
            – apparently vinegar is effective. 250 ml to 4 litres of water on any plant parts that come up
            – any little bit of root left behind can produce another plant
            – the root system of a mature plant can be as much as 5 or 6 metres (so really hard to get all the roots)
            – it can take multiple tries to get rid of a yucca (Adam’s Needle)

            If you decide to use vinegar, you will need to be cautious about protecting any nearby plants. It is an environmentally safe alternative though. But the last bit of info I have comes from my mom. She always used boiling water to get rid of weeds and unwanted or invasive plants. She used a large coffee carafe and carefully poured the boiling water just on the above-ground portion of the plant. That always, always worked and it’s a method I’ve used myself, especially on weeds. Cheers.

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          6. You’re very welcome. You’re the only other person I know who already knew the boiling water trick although I’ve told lots of people about it. Yup, we’re cruel, but you can still pour some on your yucca plant sprouts. 😉

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  7. So that’s what these are called! I’ve seen a few of them in southern Ontario too. We actually used to have two of them in our front garden, but we pulled them out to plant hydrangeas instead. And let me tell you, it was hard work to get all the roots out.

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    1. That’s what I’ve heard. There are lots of them around here growing in the most dry, rocky places; I also saw them growing in the desert when I lived in Arizona. This tells me they would have to have quite the root system to get enough moisture. Anneli commented above that “their roots are tubers and look a bit like rhubarb roots, or like a long, long yam.” I would replace them with hydrangeas too. Excellent choice!

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  8. I’ve seen lots of Yuccas in gardens and as lawn plantings. When I would drive to visit Mary Beth, during our dating years, in PA. I would see a lot of them growing in the medians of the NJ Turnpike. I never heard the name “Adam’s Needle” though. Maybe it is because the tips are quite sharp. I know there are some desert hardy plants that Native Americans used as sewing needles. They sure do add attractive flowers to any yard or garden…or highway median. 🙂

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    1. I think you’re right that the name comes from the sharp leaves. I actually didn’t know what they were until a few days ago when I took a picture and queried it on the internet. I had seen lots of them in Arizona when I lived there and then again in here in the Okanagan Valley. Yes, they are incredibly hardy, especially in dry areas; however, as you and a couple of others have pointed out, they are making themselves at home in areas that are a lot less work for them!

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