Classifying plants in my garden part 2

So you might be used to my name by now!

I'm going through my garden and the things I inherited from previous owner.

I'm doing it in phases and my phase one post has been brilliant.

However I have 2 plants I need probably urgent help with as I probably will keep them but possibly have to do some urgent maintenance.

So here is the first of those plants.

I remember vividly from last year that this one flowered with a large vertical stalk that just appeared from nowhere. It looked lovely. The stalk is still visible in the plant.

But the bottom leaves look like the bottom 2nd picture.

So...

1 - what is it?

2 - what urgent maintenance do I need

3 - what has caused the issues on the bottom?

Thanks experts!

 

Also wanted to add ... Those leaves are very sharp, as in burst a ball sharp.

 

Im not an expert on this type of plant, but a cordyline of some sort? We need to wait for @Silver surfer to come to our rescue.

I would take out last year’s flower spike, as low as you can without damaging the emerging leaves in the centre of the rosette. This will make it look tidier immediately.

The lower leaves - it’s hard to tell if they got damaged, and then died back; or died back, then got damaged. I would trim off the dead bits of the leaves, trying not to cut into the green at all. This will smarten it up, without stressing the plant. I would also reshape the lawn edge around the plant, with a gentle curve, so you are not tempted to mow underneath it, causing potential leaf damage to the plant, and leg-damage to yourself!

 

Eeeck.. err...thanks Sian!

With a tall old flower stem from last year and sharp tips to leaves I would have said Yukka sp.
A variegated Yukka sp.
But I avoided answering before cos I have never grown them so left it for other knowledgeable folk to deal with.
I hate these prickly leaf plants preferring the daintier pretty things.


variegated yucca flower - Google Search

 

Sorry!!

 

Yep - its a yucca

The lower leaves will die back and new leaves form in the crown. Over time it will form a trunk

Some leave the old leaves on to die back naturally but I tend to cut or pull off the older leaves, preferring a tidier look. On a strong stem you can pull the old leaves downwards to remove them.