Rewilding My Lot

This year I have one bloom spike on my collection of Red Yuccas (Hesperaloe parviflora). The spike is 65 inches tall and is still producing flowers from which hummingbirds feed. The last time I wrote about this plant, there were five green seed pods on the bloom spike.

Now these seed pods are black and I can hear seeds rattling inside. I don’t need any more Red Yuccas here — I already have three clumps, each of which now has multiple growing points — but it still might be fun to try to harvest the seeds.

Once one seed pod bursts on its own, I will take that as a sign that they’re ready and I’ll break open the other pods. Perhaps I can find someone who would like some seeds. However, in reality, anyone who wants to have this plant is probably better off buying an established one in a pot, else they would have to wait years before being rewarded with flowers.