Identification needed please

[shelagh]

I have been watching this plant in my neighbours garden wondering if it would ever flower and now the frosts have started I think it is doubtful.  Can you help with idendification please?

[Maggi Young]

Smart looking variegated Yucca - I  doubt that the flower spike will have time to open before the frost gets it though.
I have seen a couple of Yuccas around here trying to flower this late too - must be something about the season that has caused this - to my mind at least -  daft late flowering attempt.  It would be nice to think that the weather would be kind to them - but it's already pretty cold here with several frosts  - hope your neighbour's plant makes it, Shelagh.

[ian mcenery]

I have been watching this plant in my neighbours garden wondering if it would ever flower and now the frosts have started I think it is doubtful.  Can you help with idendification please?

Shelagh looks like Yucca gloriosa variegata assuming that the leaves are lethal. I had one which grew quite large and made a semi tropical statement in my terrace but had reluctantly to remove it when we had grandchildren. When established is difficult to remove as it suckers

[ian mcenery]

Oh and I should have said mine often tried to flower at this time and sometimes succeeded. I am told that it was lack of light that brought on the flowers and that if you covered the plant in July /August it would encourage it to flower earlier. Didn't think a rug over a plant on my terrace was an aesthetic improvement so never tried it