Yucca Gloriosa (Spanish Dagger)

Yucca gloriosa

Light
Water
Low water once established. Water deeply, then allow soil to dry thoroughly; provide occasional supplemental irrigation during prolonged Phoenix summer heat. Reduce watering in winter.
Description
An architectural yucca with dense rosettes of stiff, sword-shaped leaves tipped with sharp spines, eventually developing woody trunks.
Bloom Time
Deciduous / Evergreen
Growth Rate
Flower Color
Foliage Color
Toxicity
Foliage and roots toxic to pets and livestock if ingested (saponins)
Care Instructions

Light: Full sun to light shade; afternoon shade is beneficial in Phoenix, especially near heat-reflecting walls.

Water: Low water once established. Water deeply, then allow soil to dry thoroughly; provide occasional supplemental irrigation during prolonged Phoenix summer heat. Reduce watering in winter.

Soil: Very well-drained sandy or gravelly soil; tolerates alkaline soil. Avoid poorly drained clay and locations that collect irrigation runoff.

Mature size: 6–10 feet tall and 4–6 feet wide, occasionally taller with age; offsets can form wider clumps.

Bloom: Typically flowers in summer to fall once mature; flowering may be irregular in Phoenix. Plants do not die after flowering.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen.

Growth rate: Slow to moderate.