Please, can anyone tell me what is this plant called? Why does it look like it is dying? Can it be fixed? It is my neighbor's plant and she asked me. I don't know any of the answers. Normally it was dark green and very full and healthy. It just started doing this about 2 months ago. Zone 9B, low desert, AZ. Any help appreciated.
Thanks,
Agavegirl1
It looks like a Yucca called Spanish Bayonet. The new leaves coming out look healthy. Do you think it got sunburned?
It had been so hot when I took these pictures. Hot being over the usual 104 degrees. Chances are it did get some sun burn. It just got really pale in color also which is what I don't understand. Normally my neighbor said it is supposed to be a really dark green. She said the plant is also about 20 years old. (You can see the size of her other plants in the background). Is it being over watered do you think? She has a tree nearby that she is constantly watering.
It could turn pale from too much sun also. Is your neighbor's constantly watering a new thing? If yes, she might be drowning it. Otherwise, sunburn.
Hi,
Checked the plant files. No, Spanish Bayonet isn't it. :(
Could be some kind of Yucca though.
This plant here is 20 years old. She had it put in when the house was built. It also isn't a tree. I would say it is between 2 and a half to 3 feet tall.
I'm like you can't tell if it is the sun or the water.
No, I can't tell from here whether its too much water or too much sun. You will have to be the detective. The biggest clue would be if the neighbor is suddenly watering more than she used to or watering in a wider circle.
Feel around under the plant and see if the soil is wet. Check to see if the trunk is mushy. Try to pull the bottom leaves off - if its rotting, they should come off more easily. If its sunburn, they will be stuck tight.
I'm leaning toward sunburn because, now that its cooled off, the center is growing new leaves. But the already effected leaves will never be green and happy looking again.
Thanks, :D
that makes sense about the wet soil and seeing if the leaves are pulling off easy or still stuck tight. (Why didn't I think of it right?)
Are we closer yet on a name for this? It does look like it could be in the Yucca family.
I think its a yucca and assumed it was a young Spanish Bayonet. If 20 years old, obviously not. Has it always had that drooping habit? Maybe Yucca pendula. I'm taking guesses. Maybe move this post to the Plant ID Forum for better results.
Have no clue.
Like I said, it is neighbor's plant. She had it put in 20 years ago as part of the original landscaping when her house was built.
I think I will ask the Plant ID. Your advice about the Spanish Bayonet was good though because it got us over to things that kind of resemble it.So it may well be some kind of Yucca.
Also much thanks about how to check the leaves on it :)
I'm going to do that for her today when I get done with my own yard.
How close is that nearby tree she is watering? Doesn't she have irrigation in her yard? Is the Yucca downslope from the plant getting all the water? I would venture to say it's too much water over too much sun. This plant has been there for 20 years experiencing a lot of 105+ degree weather. Is the tree new that she is watering?
Hi Sequoiadendron,
The tree is fairly close by. It's a Bottle Brush tree. It's not new but yes, she's been watering that thing like crazy along with her Texas Sage shrubs. She told me she sets a timer for 20 minutes and walks away until it's done! (Tree is good sized) Just turns the hose on it and goes. There's no automatic drip system.
O.K. so now I have a better idea and I'll tell her to ease off watering that tree and see if her plant "perks" up and gets green again. Would it be a good idea to suggest to her to let the tree completely dry out and then water for shorter time period just maybe more frequent?
What do you think?
I am not familiar with the watering needs of a Bottle Brush tree. You might suggest she call Moon Valley nurseries to ask on that. Is she letting an open hose run for 20 mins? Or is it on trickle? How frequently is she doing this? I wonder if her Texas sage are showing signs of over watering also.
My parents live in San Tan Valley and have been there for 8 years now. My Mom is an avid gardener like me and we are always talking back and forth about their gardening conditions. They use Moon Valley exclusively for new plants and gardening advice. I've been to one of their locations too and they have quite a selection.
Funny you mention Moon Valley. When I asked she said 20 years ago when the home was build, that's who the landscapers contracted with. I'm going to have to have her check with them. (By the way San Tan Valley is only 30-40 minutes from me now.) Closest Moon Valley nursery is in Chandler about 1 hour from here.
And yes, neighbor was just turning hose on, setting it down under the tree and walking away! I "suggested" that wasn't a good idea (eye roll).
Plant is very dry underneath though and leaves do not tug out easily or feel mushy. My feeling is at this point it is just getting scorched and too much sun. I've noticed my stuff that used to or are "supposed" to take full sun can no longer handle it either.
Thanks, for the help.
I'll see if I can find out name of the plant from M.V. Nursery.
Well your soil can't handle that sort of deluge. A trickle would have been much better. I think the Chandler MV was the one my parents took me to last time I was out. My parents have such a nice property. Every time I go out I take a bunch of pics so I can document the growth of their plants. It sure is beautiful out there.
Thank you. Yes, this area is nice.
I moved to S.T. V. from Ohio. I lived in the Y-Town/Boarman/Poland area. Went to college in Pittsburgh :D ONe of my favorite cities. (Hop on "What are your projects now that planting is over" forum and we can chat! ).
Then we moved to Casa Grande from S.T.V. which is about 40 minutes away and a little more urban.(Bigger than New Castle). Gardening is fun here. I've taken lots of pics myself of not just my garden but some of the spectacular things I've seen.
This little plant puzzles me. Everyone seems at a loss, including me!
The "What is this?" group identified it for me. It is a Beschomeria rigida. It is a little known genus of Agave family.
It's genus is succulent plant family; It's family is Asparagaceae; It's sub family is Agavoideae
It is an evergreen perennial that grows in semi arid areas of Mexico and Central America usually between 6,000 t0 8,000 feet in altitude. It likes Full Sun; hardy in Zone 9 (I'm in 9b) and well draining soil.
It is prone to snails! This most likely is a snail problem from the odd brown spots on both the brown and green leaves. It doesn't seem to be sunburn because it is green at the top and keeps growing green in the area that receives the most and strongest sun. It doesn't seem to be overwatering as the brown leaves aren't "rotten" or "mushy" and are still firmly attached to the plant. Judging from all that it seems snail problem is the most likely. The snails get deep in the plant and are hard to find.
Now we just have to figure out a way to find them and get them all off and out of the soil.
Oh that's great! I'm glad you were able to find a solution! Now hopefully it doesn't bloom next year and then die like most Agave plants ;-P
I'm just hoping my neighbor and I can get it to live this year! It isn't a real common plant I guess and it is really cool looking (when it's green...eye roll). It's also 20 years old! It would be a shame to let it die.
I thought about digging it up and putting it in a pot for her and seeing if I can get it clean that way and rid of the snails. I don't know if this would cause more problems and stress of if it would help. Also what about the soil and getting rid of the pests there? Sigh.
Clueless. By the way don't you love the one in the background. That's an Eve's Needle that's also 20 years old! It's huge.
Agave,
I'm happy you finally got an ID.
Snails are raspers. That means they have little rasping tongues and any snail damage will look like someone took sandpaper to the plant. If you aren't seeing that kind of damage, its not snails.
There are other things that could cause brown spots.
http://succulent-plant.com/pests.html
Yes, the background cactus is very pretty. I really like the Cholla (sp?) cactus out there.
I don't think I'd mess with digging it out, you might do more harm than good. See if you can find a product called 'Bug Geta Plus'. It's made by Ortho and is labeled for slugs. I use it annually after my dahlias come up to keep those kinds of things off them.
Thanks! Is it a Sulfur dusting powder?
No it's little pellets almost like rodent food. I guess it's supposed to kill them when they eat it, I'm not sure. It's good for snails, slugs, earwigs, etc.
Thanks! Everyone has been real helpful. Much appreciated.
