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Yucca whipplei -Agavaceae (Liliaceae) -'Our Lord's Candle.' - Native to the hot hills of central and southern California, this beauty holds off flowering until midsummer, proudly holding its impossibly lush flowers over the drought-devastated brown shrubs and golden grass. One of the few plants to survive the very hot Cedar Fire in San Diego county, exceptionally nice flowerings will doubtless follow.

In the garden this is surprisingly adaptable to many different California climates, thriving anywhere where good drainage and sun can be provided, and will also thrive in a pot. It will happily survive lows below 15ºF as well as some snow. It will spread into a clump of multiple rosettes, and after several years the largest will flower and die, leaving its offspring to live on. With sharp-tipped leaves, this should be planted where its sharpness is not a problem, or from busy urban gardens where passers-by could use some discouraging from entering the garden..