Industrial Crop: Fiber  Management: Standard  Regional Crop

Thrives in any soil but prefers a sandy loam and full exposure to the south[11]. Requires a sunny position[11]. Prefers a hot dry position[166], strongly disliking winter wet[11]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[200]. Plants are hardier when grown on poor sandy soils[200]. Plants are hardy to at least -5°c[200] and tolerate short periods down to -10°c[187]. They grow well in the warmer maritime areas of Britain but need protection from winter rains[182]. Plants have survived to flowering at Kew and at Bodnant in N. Wales[187]. Cultivated as a fibre plant in Mexico[61]. A very ornamental plant[1], it requires late summer and autumn warmth to initiate flowering[11]. The flowers are sweetly scented[187]. Usually monocarpic, living for a number of years without flowering and dying after it does flower[11, 164]. Plants do produce suckers, however, and can be propagated by this means[78]. The flowers of most members of this genus can only be pollinated by a certain species of moth. This moth cannot live in Britain and, if fruit and seed is required, hand pollination is necessary. This can be quite easily and successfully done using something like a small paint brush. This species, however, is self-fertile and does not require the Yucca moth for pollination, setting fruit without hand pollination[11]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. Members of this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233]. Carbon Farming - Cultivation: regional crop. Management: standard.

Carbon Farming

• Industrial Crop: Fiber  Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!
• Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
• Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.