How to care for your yucca's

Most Yuccas are drought tolerant. Many landscapers will install a drip system to these type of plants. However you should remove the drip system after 2 years of growth. They are quite often over watered. Remember if you have your yucca plant in a container they will require additional watering during the hot summer months.

They thrive in sandy soils and lots of full hot sun. Do not fertilize yuccas normally you should plant and leave alone. Most are very low maintenance. Prune or remove dead or dying leaves to encourage new growth. This should be done during late fall if you live in the southwest USA. Earlier if you live elsewhere. Yucca's do not like fertilizers and many will look bad or die if you apply regular shrub or tree fertilizers. They like sandy soil without any type of soil admendents. Water consistently for the first 2-3 weeks then about once or twice will work. Once it gets extablished it only needs occassional watering twice per month should do.

If your yucca is in a container of pot it will need more water. About once or twice per week while it is in the container.

Below are some excellent drought tolerant yuccas
Variegated means multi colored leaves on fronds. The have Ivory white blooms. Forms dramatic clumps with age. Use to create contrasting textures as a garden accent or container plant. Of course they like full sun and very little water. Forms clumps 3 to 4 feet tall and wide, flower spikes to 6 feet tall.



VARIEGATED YUCCA Yucca filamentosa 'Variegata'. This Great southwestern type yucca, it is an evergreen perennial. Huge head of white blooms on 3- to 5-foot stalks. An excellent accent plant and can be used around pools. The leaves of the frond are not sharp actually very soft. Moderate grower, trunk-like stems to 6 to 8 feet tall and wide.



BLUE BEAKED YUCCA Yucca rostrata
It has very sharp blue green leaves. It does great in a large container great for your patios. Blooms in spring with white flowers that are awesome. Use as a bold architectural element in the garden. Great desert landscaping type of decor. Like sandy type soil and full sun. Very slow growing yucca up to 6 to 15 ft. tall and 8 ft. wide.



ADAMS NEEDLE Yucca filamentosa
Very low maintenance and drought resistant landscaping yucca Develops a dense rosette of 2 foot dark green leaves with a distinctive blue cast. Flowers in summer with grand spires of snow white bells that are fragrant, particularly at night when moth pollinated. Unique architectural form makes a dramatic addition to desert and Mediterranean compositions. One of the faster growing yuccas up to 3 feet tall, 5 feet in bloom, 4 feet wide.



BANANA SPLIT SOFT LEAF YUCCA Yucca recurvifolia
Bright green leaves with yellow inner blades. Does great around pools and patios. Each blade of this clumping rosette bears a golden center and gray-green edges. It will eventually develop a large trunk. Huge spikes up to 4 feet tall that are long lasting. Does great in the great desert southwest likes full sun and very drought tolerant. Use as single focal point in containers or with other drought tolerant plants in the landscape. Evergreen can grow up to 6ft. tall
There are numerous yucca varieties but above are some of the more common types that are good for backyard landscaping.

Visit Yucca photos for some excellent photos of the yuccas mentioned here.