Yucca Plant – Add Some Spice to the Flower Garden

The Yucca plant has a look that states it would be more at home in the desert, but many gardeners are finding a prominent place for this succulent in their flower gardens. And it’s no wonder, as this agave family evergreen displays a beautiful plume of flowers, and a dramatic sprout of dried seed pods.

About the Yucca Plant

Patience is key though, because once it’s in the ground the Yucca takes a while to bloom. Some benefits for the flower garden include the fact that Yuccas can take full sun, do not need much water and grow sizable enough to offer shade to flowering plants that are less full sun tolerant. Birds and Blooms garden expert Melinda Myers, Kristen Sweet, “Yucca” (Sept.2007) recommends placing it with other low maintenance plants that will also help soften it. A young Yucca plant can survive nicely as a patio container plant, but most likely will not bloom until it’s in the ground. Some varieties will even be happy indoors, provided they’re placed by a nice sunny window.

One element the Yucca offers to any garden is drama. With its sharp features and noble stance, this succulent demands attention. There are few flowering plants that are as eye catching and striking as the regal Yucca. The following are some of the things gardeners should know before adding Yucca to their garden.

• Common Name-Yucca, dagger plant and Adam’s needle.
• Blooms- Mid to late summer and maybe not every year, depends on plant’s energy.
• Yucca Hardiness- Very strong plant.
• Height- 2-8 feet and it varies depending on species.
• Spread- 4-6 feet.
• Flower- Bell-shaped, white,some tinged with green or pink.
• Light- Full sun.
• Soil- well drained and dry.
• When to plant- Plants should have time to establish before winter.

Garden Surprises With the Yucca

There are actually 40-50 variations and the most common species of Yucca is the filamentosa (Adam’s needle). This particular agave breed is stem-less, dark green in color and has a white bloom with a tint of cream and green. An added pleasure this plant brings to the garden is its fragrance. The Yucca flower smells wonderful, especially in the evening. Flowers of the Yucca attract hummingbirds and many other birds are fond of the dried seed pods.

Another common species that grows almost everywhere is the weakleaf Yucca (Yucca flaccida). An added feature of this species is that it is softer, with less rigid foliage and the leaves are a bright blue-green in color. The flower clusters are shorter , but no less extraordinary. Yucca plants are grown from a root that is edible, but discretion is necessary as to which species is safe to eat.

No matter the variety choice or garden placement, the Yucca plant promises to bring years and years of impressive blooms and garden enjoyment.