Plant Min Zone: 5b
Plant Max Zone: 10a
Sunlight: All Day Full Sun
Water / Rainfall: Very Low
Soil Quality: Poor
Bloom Season: Early Summer
Flower Color: White, Cream
Berry / Fruit Color: None
Spring Foliage Color: Green
Summer Foliage Color: Green
Fall Foliage Color: Green
Evergreen Foliage: Yes
Winter Interest: Yes
Scented Flowers: No
Drought Tolerance: High
Wet-Feet Tolerance: Low
Humidity Tolerance: Low
Wind Tolerance: High
Poor Soil Tolerance: Sandy Soils, Rocky Soils, Alkaline Soils (high PH)
Height: 1.5' - 3'
Width: 2' - 3'
Growth Rate: Extremely Slow
Service Life: Long: 5-10 years
Maintenance Need: Low
Spreading Potential: Extremely Low
Yearly Trimming Tips: Yuccas and Cacti Need No Trimming Except to Remove the Dead Flower Stalk.
Plant Grouping Size: Specimen Planting of 1-3
Best Side of House: South Exposure, West Exposure
Extreme Planting Locations: Survives Under Roof Overhang, Survives Severe Drought, Tolerates Extreme Heat, Resistant to Rabbits
Ornamental Features: Multiple Seasons of Interest, Exceptional / Colorful Foliage
Special Landscape Uses: None
Possible Pest Problems: Root Rot Disease
Plant Limitations: May get Occasional Winter-kill, Has Thorns, Needs Excellent Drainage, Slow to Reach Mature Size
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!