Bluish-green curved leaves from this yucca (Yucca baccata) make an excellent architectural statement. Used as a patio plant in Kansas, place in full sun with no extra watering except from rainfall. Repotting may or may not be needed depending on how large you want the plant to grow. Potted plants are hardy to at least -5 to -15 degrees F if kept dry so you can wait awhile to move these in for the winter. Then move into a cold garage, basement, or bright window over the winter with NO watering. You may also leave this plant outside if under a dry overhang all winter and freeze solid if desired. A suggestion to make this plant a lot more safe around your eyeballs is to clip the new spines off as the new leaves slowly unfurl. It is suggested to buy a large plant to start with as growth is slow. I have never seen this species flower in Kansas, but if it does, the young flower stalks can be cooked and eaten, with the tough outer rind discarded. The fruit can be also be eaten raw or cooked. Yucca baccata occurs in a large area of the North American deserts and exhibits much variation across its range. Yucca baccata specimens we sell are from the higher, mountainous regions of the Rocky Mountains with increased winter hardiness. Having desert heritage, it resents poor drainage and winter moisture. To counteract that in Kansas, plant in full sun on berm or south-facing wall with poor sandy or rocky soil with no irrigation. A large 2-3' wide specimen has flourished in our display garden in Lawrence, KS for over 15 years. It is planted partially under a south facing roof overhang and has survived -16 degrees F and a week of single digit highs in February, 2021. Amazing that a yucca native to areas receiving 4-5" of rain per year can grow in a climate receiving 10 times more rain!
Green sword-like leaves from this yucca (Yucca elephantipes) make an excellent architectural statement. This yucca is native to Mexico and Guatamala but used as a patio plant in Kansas. Place in full sun to part sun with optional extra watering including that which comes from rainfall. Repotting may or may not be needed depending on how large you want the plant to grow; plants can continue to grow taller and tolerate extremely root-bound pots but may need wind bracing. Potted plants are hardy to at least 25 degrees F for a short time if kept dry so you are ok if you miss the first light frost. Do not allow the pot with rootball to freeze solid though. Move into a cold garage, basement, or bright window over the winter with occasional watering. As a winter house plant, it will look presentable all winter long with just a few waterings. Luckily monocarpic flowering will never occur in a potted yucca so you don't have to worry about death after flowering. Potted plants are very low maintenance needing only old leaves trimmed once per year.
Adam's Needle Yucca (Yucca filamentosa) is a slow-growing broadleaf evergreen perennial. Blue-green leaves form rosettes about 2-3 feet tall and wide. Tall white flower spikes reliably appear on mature plants in May and June. If pollination is successful, attractive seed heads form later turning to black before cracking open. Although yuccas are more typical of western deserts and grasslands, this one is native to central and eastern United States. Tough as nails, yuccas are the ideal plant for a no-maintenance garden. Normally a plant has specific requirements for success but Adam's needle yucca has only one: it cannot tolerate growing in standing water or really wet soil. Plant in full sun to dry shade in any soil! In the landscape yuccas are often seen planted alone by a mailbox or neglected old landscape because they have outlived the original owners and the landscape service life. The root system of decades old plants may take up the underground volume of a large trash can. Yuccas look best when combined with other flowering plants providing texture and color. In mass plantings, yucca can create an interesting architectural look. Combined with ornamental grasses, yuccas can create stunning contrasts with winter grass colors of pink, orange and rust. Yucca flowers are pollinated exclusively by the yucca moth and deserve a place in native plant and pollinator gardens. This is a true 4-season "Once it's there, it's there forever" plant! Considered one of the best plants for solving your most difficult dry-shade landscape challenges.
Adam's needle yucca (Yucca filamentosa) is a slow-growing broadleaf evergreen perennial. Blue-green leaves form rosettes about 2-3 feet tall and wide. Tall white flower spikes reliably appear on mature plants in May and June. If pollination is successful, attractive seed heads form later turning to black before cracking open. Although yuccas are more typical of western deserts and grasslands, this one is native to central and eastern United States. Tough as nails, yuccas are the ideal plant for a no-maintenance garden. Normally a plant has specific requirements for success but Adam's needle yucca has only one: it cannot tolerate growing in standing water or really wet soil. Plant in full sun to dry shade in any soil! In the landscape yuccas are often seen planted alone by a mailbox or neglected old landscape because they have outlived the original owners and the landscape service life. The root system of decades old plants may take up the underground volume of a large trash can. Yuccas look best when combined with other flowering plants providing texture and color. In mass plantings, yucca can create an interesting architectural look. Combined with ornamental grasses, yuccas can create stunning contrasts with winter grass colors of pink, orange and rust. Yucca flowers are pollinated exclusively by the yucca moth and deserve a place in native plant and pollinator gardens. This is a true 4-season "Once it's there, it's there forever" plant! Color Guard Yucca (Yucca filamentosa 'Color Guard') is a beautiful variegated variety with a bright yellow stripe down the middle of the leaf. The yellow color turns pinkish red with full winter sun and cold temperatures creating a stunning effect. Landscape designers often count on this variety for winter color!
Adam's Needle Yucca (Yucca filamentosa) is a slow-growing broadleaf evergreen perennial. Blue-green leaves form rosettes about 2-3 feet tall and wide. Tall white flower spikes reliably appear on mature plants in May and June. If pollination is successful, attractive seed heads form later turning to black before cracking open. Although yuccas are more typical of western deserts and grasslands, this one is native to central and eastern United States. Tough as nails, yuccas are the ideal plant for a no-maintenance garden. Normally a plant has specific requirements for success but Adam's needle yucca has only one: it cannot tolerate growing in standing water or really wet soil. Plant in full sun to dry shade in any soil! In the landscape yuccas are often seen planted alone by a mailbox or neglected old landscape because they have outlived the original owners and the landscape service life. The root system of decades old plants may take up the underground volume of a large trash can. Yuccas look best when combined with other flowering plants providing texture and color. In mass plantings, yucca can create an interesting architectural look. Combined with ornamental grasses, yuccas can create stunning contrasts with winter grass colors of pink, orange and rust. Yucca flowers are pollinated exclusively by the yucca moth and deserve a place in native plant and pollinator gardens. This is a true 4-season "Once it's there, it's there forever" plant! 'Excalibur' is a beautiful compact bluish variety with lots of attractive curly white filaments on the edge of the leaves.
Pale green sword-like leaves from this yucca (Yucca glauca) make an excellent architectural statement with needle-like evergreen foliage. Over time, this yucca will form colonies of evergreen rosettes in its native habitat. Yucca glauca is the most cold-hardy yucca occuring in a large area of the North American great plains and short-grass prairies. The native habitat ranges from Texas to Canada and covers central Kansas predominantly in areas receiving 10-20" of rain per year. Having desert heritage, it resents poor drainage and winter moisture but will usually tolerate normal Eastern Kansas rainfall if planted in full sun on berm or south-facing wall with no extra irrigation. Use is primarily reserved for cactus or xeriscape gardens needing the fine needle-like texture of evergreen foliage and/or where Adam's needle yucca foliage might be too wide. Avoid placing near trees as fall clean-up of leaves can be a problem. Avoid use where children or pets play; needles are sharp and unforgiving! A large 2-3' wide specimen has flourished in our display garden in Lawrence, KS for over 15 years and flowered many times. Flowers are quite attractive and full of medicinal and edible uses for those inclined to learn more. Amazing that a yucca native to areas receiving as little as 10" of rain per year can grow in a climate receiving 40" of rain!
Powder Blue sword-like leaves from this yucca (Yucca rostrata 'Sapphire Skies') make an excellent architectural statement. Used as a patio plant in Kansas, place in full sun with no extra watering except from rainfall. Repotting may or may not be needed depending on how large you want the plant to grow. Potted plants are hardy to at least 0-5 degrees F if kept dry so you can wait awhile to move these in for the winter. Then move into a cold garage, basement, or bright window over the winter with NO watering. Luckily monocarpic flowering will never occur in a potted yucca so you don't have to worry about death after flowering. A suggestion to make this plant a lot more safe around your eyeballs is to clip the new spines off as the new leaves slowly unfurl. These spines are however softer and less dangerous than other yuccas. Although un-tested by the author, this yucca could survive in the ground in a microclimate under a south facing roof overhang kept completely dry in the winter and controlled water in the summer. It is suggested to buy a large plant to start with as growth is extremely slow, about 1-2" height per year. Many yuccas, including this one, may also be grown from rhizomes, stem cuttings, or by digging offsets from the side of established plants. Having desert heritage, it resents poor drainage and winter moisture. To counteract that in Kansas, plant in full sun on berm with poor sandy or rocky soil with no irrigation.