Yucca problem

jackie.b.4773Thd_sh

Hi woke up to see my yucca completely bent over in the extreme cold and snow. It doesn't seem to have come out of the ground, but the stem is completely  rigid. Is this just due to the very cold weather, or the weight of snow, will it be retreivable? Any suggestions  would be appreciated. Thanks  

AnniD

It could be the weight of the snow,it wouldn't hurt to brush it off, although to be honest it doesn't look like there's enough to cause that extreme collapse. I don't think l've ever seen one bend like that.
It looks as though you had it tied to a support or something? 

Depending on whereabouts you are in the UK you could be in for milder weather from tomorrow although l believe Northern areas will stay pretty chilly .

I think it's actually a Cordyline Australis and a lot were lost in the very cold winter of 2010.
Until you can try pushing it upright and resupporting it, l don't think you will know for sure. 

With luck other forum members can advise 

Fairygirl

I don't think that's a yukka either - looks more like a cordyline.
It's only a tiny amount of snow - that wouldn't cause it to droop. It's something else that's causing the bend. 
There seems to be a rope of some kind tying it to a post [?] Has it always had that? Neither of these plants should need any support if they're properly planted. How long has it been in the site? It may have struggled to establish well with the other planting around it, and isn't well enough firmed in. There's a substantial laurel and a clematis nearby, which may have contributed to that.
If you have any other photos of it - during summer for example, that might help with further advice   

bédé

I think it's a yucca.  If it has flowered, that would tell.  (Oh it has - YUCCA)  THey have rather flexible stems that don't readily continue to grow upright.  

I tried to support mine, but mind, it's visious - it fights back.  In the end this spring, I cut it down to a stump that is now showing 2 new sprouts.  i ft "logs" in the compst heap are also sprouting.

Yucca flaccida.  More of a succulent (agave family) than a tree. You'll see how soft it is when you get your saw out.  Do it as soon as the weather is possble; I would not, for aesthetic or safety reasons, want that hanging around.

Fairygirl

I've had a closer look and I think there's a flower spike there which looks like a yukka.
They don't survive outdoors here, so I can't really help further, but I doubt that the rope is doing much good. 
I think you may need to leave it and then take a view on it in spring. They can often revive when cut back though. 

jackie.b.4773Thd_sh

Ok thanks for your comments everone. First I know it is definitely a yucca,  I have cordyline front garden. I had brushed off a lot of snow before this picture  was taken. Yes the rope was there from a long line ago when it was leaning slightly. To answer the question about how long it's been there between 15 to 20 years.  I have another one that I have tied and staked as a precaution. It certainly hasn't struggled  to establish itself  it was planted as a small young plant. its roots are still in the ground it has just bent right over and is stiff. I will post some other photos of it from the summer.  I am in the south of England on the Herts/ Beds boarder. There is  a laurel behind it and not a clematis but a Jasmin on the arch. Think I will just have to wait until its thawed out and see what I can do with it.

jackie.b.4773Thd_sh

jackie.b.4773Thd_sh

jackie.b.4773Thd_sh

This is my other yucca