Hesperoyucca Species, Chaparral Yucca, Our Lord's Candle, Quixote Yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei)

flowers in spring

ssp. eremica in habitat in BCN

Yucca blossoms up close...

Spherical symmetry of subspecies parishii - Angeles National Forest, California

You have to catch these moments before the stalk shoots up...almost as quickly as a bean-stalk sometimes!

Yucca blossoms continuing to emerge...and grow ever more lovely...

In Escondido, California

Huntington Botanical Gardens, Pasadena California

The Santa Monica Mountains form, which is smaller than the San Gabriel Mountains form

flower spike in early March

wild yucca in southern California

just starting to flower in spring

in full bloom in spring in the 'wild' southern California foothills

old flower spike showing seed pods, southern California foothills

look of plant after flowering (one of the few monocarpic Yucca species)

In captivity

several plants seen flowering throughout this canyon in southern California, early May

This startling reddish spike is a common sighting in the spring in the valleys and hills of southern California

close up of spines and unopened flower spike in spring

unopened flower spike detail

Very tall flower stalk

Will send up a flower stalk soon

Subspecies parishii - San Gabriel Mountains, California

Seeds

Subspecies intermedia - in natural habitat - Santa Monica Mountains, California

Large flower stalk - subspecies parishii


ssp. eremica flowering in late April in Baja Garden of Wild Animal Park, Escondido, CA

ssp. eremica flowering in late April in Baja Garden of Wild Animal Park, Escondido, CA

ssp. eremica in habitat in BCN

Not sure how snails navigate these -- but they do!

A nice blue tinge -- accented by the cornflowers.

No blooms this year -- but lots of snails!

How's this for a Mother's Day bouquet? Taken on 5-8-2011.





Yucca continuing to grow...

Yucca continuing to grow...more...

Yucca continuing to grow...more...and more...

Yucca continuing to grow...more...and more...and more...

Yucca continuing to grow...more...and more...and more...and more...

Yucca starting to take a stand...

Tip of the Yucca bloom -- almost looks like a protea bloom...

Yucca beginning to stand taller...

Yucca beginning to stand taller...and taller...

Yucca flowers emerging from the tip...

Yucca's lovely green and purple stalk...

Yucca nearing full, majestic height...

Yucca blossoms continuing to emerge...

Yucca flowers -- couldn't be a better bouquet from nature!

Yucca -- beginning to look like Jack's Beanstalk!

Yucca -- some of the loveliest contrast of colors imaginable!

Yucca -- truly a lavish presentation of blossoms!

Yucca against a cloudy sky -- magnificent!

Yucca -- like a bride in all her glory!

Yucca -- truly a candle to light up the sky!

Yucca -- a real head-turner (even little dogs stop to gaze in wonder!)

Yucca -- every part is complete in fascinating detail...

Yucca -- totally awesome!

Yucca -- after the blossoms have all dropped and the seeds have formed.

University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley

Central California Coast

Central California Coast

Central California Coast

The yucca of 2011 is now dried -- but the stalk stem is still standing and a younger plant is now blooming.

The base of the 2011 yucca -- still has a lot of green, although the stalk stem is dry.

April, high desert, southern California

Garnet Peak, San Diego. Copyright of, courtesy of Jeremy Spath, of Spath Gardens, for landscape design and installation in Southern Ca. http://spathgardens.com/

A hill of them! Copyright Jeremy Spath, of Water's Path Landscape Design and Curator at Rancho Soledad Nursery. From Encinitas, CA.

Copyright Jeremy Spath, of Spath Gardens, for landscape design and installation in Southern Ca.

Photo courtesy of Ken Blackford. Copyright Ken Blackford. San Diego, Ca.

Central San Diego County. Photo courtesy of Ken Blackford. Copyright Ken Blackford. San Diego, Ca.

Central San Diego County. Photo courtesy of Ken Blackford. Copyright Ken Blackford. San Diego, Ca.

Central San Diego County. Photo courtesy of Ken Blackford. Copyright Ken Blackford. San Diego, Ca.

Central San Diego County. Photo courtesy of Ken Blackford. Copyright Ken Blackford. San Diego, Ca.

Skeletal bloom remains. Central San Diego County. Copyright Ken Blackford. San Diego, Ca.

A very purple one! Copyright Jeremy Spath, owner at Water's Path Landscape Design and Curator at Rancho Soledad Nursery. From Encinitas, CA.

Budding. Copyright Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California

Photo courtesy of, copyright of Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California

Starting to bud. Copyright Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California.

Starting to bud. Copyright Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California.

Starting to bud #2. Copyright Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California.

Bud day 13. Copyright Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California.

Bud day 14. Copyright Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California.

South San Diego County. Copyright Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, San Diego, CA.

17 days from start. Copyright of Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California

Photo courtesy of, copyright of Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California

Photo courtesy of, copyright of Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California

Photo courtesy of, copyright of Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California

Live and dead. Torrey Pines State Preserve. Copyright of Jim Bishop, a San Diego, California Landscape Designer.

Copyright Jeremy Spath, owner at Water's Path Landscape Design and Curator at Rancho Soledad Nursery.

Copyright Jeremy Spath, owner at Water's Path Landscape Design and Curator at Rancho Soledad Nursery.

Seed pods. Hiking up to Garnet Peak, San Diego County. Copyright Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, CA.

Seed pods. Hiking up to Garnet Peak, San Diego County. Copyright Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, CA.

Rare pink one. Western slopes of Mt Laguna. Copyright Ken Blackford. San Diego, Ca.

Rare pink one. Western slopes of Mt Laguna. Copyright Ken Blackford. San Diego, Ca.

Photo courtesy of, copyright of Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California.

Photo courtesy of, copyright of Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California.

Photo courtesy of, copyright of Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California.

Photo courtesy of, copyright of Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California.

Photo courtesy of, copyright of Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California.

Photo courtesy of, copyright of Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California.

Photo courtesy of, copyright of Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California.

Photo courtesy of, copyright of Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California.

Photo courtesy of Ken Blackford. Copyright Ken Blackford. San Diego, Ca.

Seed pods. Garnet Peak Trail, CA. Copyright of Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California.

Seed pods. Garnet Peak Trail, CA. Copyright of Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California.

Photo courtesy of, copyright of Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California.

Bud. Photo courtesy of, copyright of Jim Bishop, a Landscape Designer, from San Diego, California.
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About
Hesperoyucca Species, Chaparral Yucca, Our Lord's Candle, Quixote Yucca
Hesperoyucca whipplei
Type: | Cactus and Succulents |
Height: | 12-24 in. | 30-60 cm |
Conditions: | Zone 8-11, Full Sun |