Plant Biography
Native to dry, arid lands in the USA and Mexico, the purpose of Yucca rostrata’s stunning glaucous blue colour is an adaption needed to reflect some of the extremely bright light and heat in its native desert home.
For thousands of years these plants have been used by Native American people, who refer to them as ‘palmita’ and ‘soyate’, as a source of both food and fibres.
More recently, the Beaked Yucca has grown greatly in ornamental popularity as when planted they make for a great accent in gardens with succulent or mixed arid planting. Kept in a container they can add shimmering blue interest to an intensely sunny spot in any garden with very little maintenance.
Care & Size Guidance
Once the plant is mature, towering flower spikes can emerge from the plant around spring and summer and produce large bell shaped white flowers.
It will eventually grow upwards to form a trunk, covered in the creamy straw coloured remnants of its older foliage which can be trimmed or left to form a ‘skirt’ beneath the crown as it would in nature.
Yucca rostrata
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- YUK-ah ro-STRAY-tah
- Description
- This tree-like yucca is an extremely ornamental, slow-growing evergreen, with a perfectly symmetrical pom-pom-like form. Its form includes hundreds of 2 foot long leaves. The leaves have sharp points and are an attractive pale blue-green color. The rosette of leaves sits at the top of the trunk. The trunk is covered with the remains of old leaves which are soft fibers.
Beautiful yellow-orange stalks appear at the top of the plant in late spring. The stalks have clusters of white flowers.
This tree-like plant has leaves that are soft, unlike other varieties of yucca, making this a less dangerous plant.
One of the hardiest trunk-forming yuccas, it tolerates cold up to zone 5. While full sun is ideal, it tolerates part shade so long as it gets at least three hours of sun.
The common name ‘Big Bend Yucca’ arises from this species being found in its natural habitat of the Big Bend are of the Rio Grand River.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Minor issues with red spiders, spider mites, mealybugs, scale and aphids. Avoid planting in locations having poor drainage. Overwatering can lead to root rot.
VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for “Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti“, a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- ‘Sapphire Skies’
More silvery tone to the leaves. Grows up to 5′.
- ‘Sapphire Skies’
- Tags:
- Attributes:
- Genus:
- Yucca
- Species:
- rostrata
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South western Texas, northern Mexico
- Wildlife Value:
- Yucca moth larvae feed on the seeds, adults pollinate the flowers. Attracts hummingbirds.
- Play Value:
- Shade
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is highly resistant to damage from deer.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. – 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. – 10 ft. 0 in.
- Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Prickles
- Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5b, 5a, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a, 10b, 10a, 11b, 11a, 12b, 12a
- Fruit:
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Erect, ovoid to ellipsoid fruits.
- Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- 2 foot cluster of white flowers that rise high above the crown. They bloom in late spring.
- Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Sharp-tipped leaves up to 2′ long, margins finely toothed, arranged on the crown similar to a pom-pom. Old leaves dry out and often remain on the trunk.
- Bark:
- Bark Description:
- The bark is made up of soft gray fibers of old leaves. It creates a silver haze.
- Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Yellow-orange flowering stalks rise above the foliage. Typically single stemmed.
- Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Landscape Theme:
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Pro
