Agave ????

Could be a variety of PHORMIUM.

thanks wyeboy, but no defo not phormium, i have 3 varieties of phormium and the base of the plant is nothing like a phormium. phormium leaves come out of the base on like a flat fan, this is more like a rosette - does that make sense? proberly not explained it very well, but i am sure it is not phormium.

It looks like Beschormeria decosteriana to me, but not 100% on the species.

I've looked at Agaves and Beschormerias in the RHS books, and must admit to being puzzled, majeeka. They are all only hardy down to 0 degrees, so be careful with it - have some fleece ready!. I think you may have to wait until it decides to flower, to be sure what it is, as the flowers are quite different. Sorry not to be definite. I agree I don't think it's a Phormium, though.

thanks guys - i'll have a look on google to see if i can find any pic's and info on Beschormieria - as its not one that i know. at least now i have a place to start, and i will have some fleece on hand just incase i would hate to loose it - i already lost my bird of paradise this year that i have nurtured for 7 years, because i was'nt ready for the heavy frost we had early noveber, i wont make the same mistake twice - although having said that this plant was outside through that and it had no effect! but we have'nt had any snow as yet - would'nt like to take the chance with that!

Snow is less likely to be a problem than frost - it acts as an insulating blanket. Many alpines in the wild survive because they are covered in snow; in our gardens they just rot in the wet conditions

thanks Andrew, it has had a pretty heavy coating of frost already and it has'nt had an effect at all! but i have just managed to find it on google and judging by the info i found i would say that it does look and sound like a Beschormeria, so at least we have managed to id it - thanks Chowe! i think i will cover it with fleece just incase!

Looks like something I bought from B&Q last Summer which was labelled as a Mexican Yucca. I gathered up the leaves and tied them with 3-4 cm strips of fleece then I wrapped fleece around the whole plant and it is out in the garden as we speak. I'll let you know in the Spring if I managed to murder it or keep it alive

Just been browsing a nursey website and found beschornia yuccoides:

"A wonderful exotic flowering plant from Mexico with a 1.2m tall reddish panicle covered in funnel shaped bright green reddish flowers in the summer. Wide lanceolate blue green leaves are up to 70cms long and have fine teeth along the margin. This species is polycarpic, which means that the rosette does not die after flowering. Height 1.8m with a spread of 1.5 – 2m. Plant in fertile well-drained soil in full sun. Hardy to about minus 10 degrees C "

Check out www.trevenacross.co.uk and look at the succulents section - there is a picture there too

Is this it?

Andrew you little star! that is it, i have just had a look on the web site you recommended, and it is exactly the same to the one i have, and the good news is it should be fully hardy outside according to the info. it says that it's hardy to minus 10 - it is in a sheltered but sunny spot. so i would think it will be fine, i might just give it a little protection with the fleese just incase. and also i had no idea that it flowered, i am looking forward to that!

See - I'm not just a pretty face <grin>

Well done, Andrew! Looks like mystery solved. Sorry to throw a spanner in the works, but RHS A-Z says it is BORDERLINE hardy, so a prolonged period of frost might 'do' for it. I would still keep the fleece on hand, majeeka. I trust the RHS, they are usually right.

i did'nt doubt you for one minute Andrew - i knew i could count on you to find it! lol and thanks spritz - i have looked in my copy of the RHS A-Z and found the same info, but they don't have mine listed 'Yuccoides Quicksilver' Andrew is right it is exactly the same as the picture of this, but i have been chatting with Andrea about this and she does have something very simular - if not the same, which she has wrapped in fleese, so i think i will play safe, i'd rather not take the chance. thank you everyone for all your help and advice. and if i do manage to get it through the winter ok it has plenty of babys growing from the base, so if anyone would like me to send them one please message me and i will glady oblige! - first come first serve!

I reckon I should get one for telling what it is - please

Please may I join the queue, majeeka?