Yucca Elata (Soaptree Yucca)
A tree-like yucca native to the Southwest, with slender trunks crowned by narrow, flexible leaves edged with curling white fibers. Special Features Highly drought tolerant, heat tolerant, and cold hardy in Zone 9b. Architectural silhouette and distinctive white leaf fibers; roots and trunks contain soap-forming saponins. Problems & Solutions Root and crown rot in wet […]
Yucca Blue (Thompson’s Yucca)
Clumping, trunk-forming yucca native to the Chihuahuan Desert with stiff, blue-gray sword-shaped leaves and tall spikes of creamy white blooms. Excellent for low-water desert landscapes. Special Features Blue-gray foliage for year-round color; attracts pollinators; extremely drought tolerant; well adapted to Sonoran conditions Problems & Solutions Sharp leaf tips (plant away from high-traffic areas); root rot […]
Yucca Baccata (Banana Yucca)
Large clumping yucca native to the Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts with stiff, spine-tipped blue-green leaves. Produces large cream-colored flower clusters in spring followed by fleshy edible fruit. Extremely drought and cold tolerant. Special Features Edible fleshy fruit; pollinated by yucca moths; provides wildlife food and habitat; extremely drought and cold tolerant Problems & Solutions Sharp […]
Yucca Rostrata (Beaked Yucca)
A sculptural, tree-form yucca with a rounded crown of narrow, powder-blue leaves atop a trunk often skirted with old foliage. Special Features Striking blue foliage and architectural silhouette; highly drought tolerant, heat tolerant, and cold hardy in Phoenix. Problems & Solutions Root and crown rot from excessive moisture (improve drainage and avoid watering the crown); […]
Yucca Rigida (Blue Yucca)
A sculptural, tree-form yucca native to northern Mexico, with dense crowns of stiff, powder-blue leaves tipped with sharp spines. Special Features Striking blue foliage and architectural form; highly heat and drought tolerant, with good cold tolerance for Zone 9b. Problems & Solutions Root and crown rot in wet conditions: improve drainage and avoid frequent watering. […]
Yucca Gloriosa (Spanish Dagger)
An architectural yucca with dense rosettes of stiff, sword-shaped leaves tipped with sharp spines, eventually developing woody trunks. Special Features Bold architectural form; drought tolerant once established; tolerates Zone 9b winter temperatures and attracts night-flying pollinators. Problems & Solutions Overwatering and poor drainage cause root or crown rot; keep the crown dry and improve drainage. […]
Yucca Recurvifolia
Evergreen accent yucca with long, arching, soft-tipped blue-green leaves that recurve gracefully. Forms a bold rosette atop a short trunk with age and tolerates heat and drought once established. Special Features Soft flexible tips are low-hazard; attracts moths and pollinators; heat and drought tolerant; year-round structure Problems & Solutions Root rot if overwatered (ensure drainage); […]
Yucca Pendula (Soft-leaf Yucca)
Soft-leaf or pendulous yucca with long, blue-green leaves that gracefully recurve at the tips. Forms a multi-trunked clump over time and produces tall spikes of creamy white flowers. Well suited to low-water desert landscapes and safer near paths than stiff-tipped yuccas. Special Features Drought tolerant; soft recurved tips are low-hazard; attracts pollinators; heat and reflected-sun […]
Yucca Linearifolia
A sculptural, trunk-forming yucca native to northeastern Mexico, with dense, rounded crowns of exceptionally narrow, blue-green leaves. Yucca linearifolia is the accepted spelling. Special Features Fine-textured, symmetrical foliage; strong architectural form; excellent heat and drought tolerance once established; cold hardy in Zone 9b. Problems & Solutions Root and crown rot can result from poor drainage […]
Yucca Filifera (St. Peter’s Palm)
Large branching tree-form yucca native to central Mexico. Develops a thick trunk with age and dense rosettes of stiff green leaves edged with fine curly filaments. Matures into a dramatic architectural specimen. Special Features Striking tree-form silhouette; heat, drought, and poor-soil tolerant; wildlife habitat; filamentous leaf margins Problems & Solutions Sharp leaf tips (plant away […]