SEED - Mexican Blue Yucca, 10 seeds

Yucca rigida is not often seen in NZ, despite its striking appearance and ability to tolerate a wide range of conditions. It is a robust, cold-tolerant yucca, native to Mexico, forming a single trunk topped with beautiful light blue, stiff, sharp leaves with a yellow margin. Think of a light blue version of NZ's Giant Spaniard but which eventually forms a trunk.

These hardy plants are well suited to sandy soil or a gravel garden. Yucca rigida is exceptionally hardy and tough, able to withstand droughts, cold temperatures down to -15C and hot temperatures above 37C. A must for any Mediterranean- or tropical-themed garden, and ideal for a striking display in pots.

They prefer full sun & very well-drained soil. They are a dry climate plant capable of storing water in their large, swollen root system, so be careful with the watering -- too dry is better than too wet.

Yucca rigida seeds are curious little numbers, resembling tiny flakes of argillite, and germinate readily within about 10 days of sowing in a good seed raising mix with warmth and moderate moisture. Germination is helped along by a 24-hour soak in tepid water before sowing.

Seedlings start off bright green in colour, but the beautiful pale silver-blue colouring of this species develops while the seedlings are still at a very young age with just a few leaves. The colouring is more distinctive when they receive direct sun otherwise they will tend towards a greener hue.