Furcraea longaeva

Furcraea longaeva has pale blue-green sword-shaped leaves which grow upwards, like a yucca. Mature plants bear enormous white flower spikes in summer, which sometimes reach heights of more than three metres. Each individual flower on the spike develops into a tiny baby plant, which drops off the stem to root into the soil, while the parent plant eventually dies. It’s perfect for adding a touch of drama to an exotic or tropical style border.

Grow Furcraea longaeva in full sun in well-drained soil. Frost tender, you will need to protect it in winter, while transplanting some of the baby plants into pots to overwinter indoors will insure against losses outside. Alternatively, grow it indoors in a large conservatory.