Hi, Brenda.

If I recall, it took about 3 years for my Yucca plant to bloom. After blooming only once, I believe the mother plant dies.

I then got no blooms the following year and now have 2 huge spikes about to bloom from 2 of the 'babies'.

In my zone, I always get lots of browning as well as bent and broken leaves after winter. I usually have to clip off all the leaves in spring. This year, I'll probably just cut them all off in the fall.

Interesting that you mention browning over winter, even in zone 5. It's interesting, my plant usually survives winter quite green and intact, but after the snow melts in spring it then starts to turn brown. I tried shading it from the sun in spring but the same thing happens. I tried helping the ground thaw out quicker so it can take up water but the same browning happens. Maybe it's a delayed reaction from winter damage.

As for blooming mine bloomed the second year I got it but has yet to bloom since. It was quite amazing. So, maybe winter damage also damages the spike where it ends up producing the blossoms.

I've concluded that winter may damage the leaves of this plant even totally, but the root survives and it always recovers by summer. If you get alot of winter damage where you trim off the brown leaves every year, you almost get a small mini 4 inch trunk or so at the bse, made up of the area where the old leaves used to be.

Glen

Dear Brenda and Diana,

Yuccas typically do not die after flowering, although the Yucca from my old home, Yucca whipplei, did.

Agaves, however, are typically monotypic - they die after flowering.

I thought my Yucca (a variegated cultivar) had died during the winter here, and it did, but there are multiple pups from the dead plant that are now thriving.

Thanks so much for your replies and since mine looks really great (after a good trim) I guess I will just leave it alone and be patient for a bloom!

Again thank you all! Brenda