Plants in genus yucca
Yucca jaliscensis
Yucca jaliscensis is a tall, tree-like species native to the highlands of southwestern Mexico. It can grow up to 33 feet tall and features stiff, blue to green leaves. The plant is drought-tolerant and thrives in dry, rocky environments, often found in forested ravines and tropical deciduous forests.
Yucca pallida
Yucca pallida is a deer-resistant plant forming 20-inch tall rosettes with powder-blue leaves. It is topped with 3-foot tall spikes of white bell-shaped flowers, making it a favorite among hummingbirds. Native to Northern Mexico and parts of Texas, this plant is known for its light-colored leaves and moderate hardiness, thriving in well-drained soil with full sun exposure.
Yucca constricta
Yucca constricta, commonly known as Buckley's yucca, is a striking plant with a 3-foot wide rosette of narrow, glaucous-green leaves. It develops a short trunk and produces a 6-foot tall flowering spike of white bell-shaped flowers. Native to Texas and Coahuila, Mexico, this plant attracts hummingbirds and thrives in dry conditions.
Yucca reverchonii
Yucca reverchonii is a Texas native plant with narrow blue-green leaves and tall flower spikes of bright white bells. It thrives in gravelly limestone soils and forms low, trunkless colonies.
Yucca decipiens
Yucca decipiens, commonly known as 'palma china', is a striking evergreen native to the San Luis Potosi region of Mexico. This slow-growing plant can reach up to 30 feet tall, featuring a single trunk and stiff, olive-green leaves with thread-like filifers. It thrives at elevations of 8,000 feet and is well-suited for dry, rocky environments. As a member of the Asparagaceae family, it is both deer-resistant and attractive to hummingbirds. Its population remains stable, making it a resilient choice for gardens seeking a touch of the exotic.
Yucca faxoniana
Yucca faxoniana, native to west Texas and Mexico, is a tree yucca with a thick trunk that can reach up to 20 feet tall. It features greyish-green leaves and 3-foot stalks of white, bell-shaped flowers. This plant is drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and attracts hummingbirds, making it a striking addition to xeriscapes.
Yucca filifera
Yucca filifera is a tall, heavily branched plant native to central Mexico, known for its straight, ensiform leaves arranged in rosettes. It produces a striking inflorescence of white flowers and is cultivated for its fibers and use in xerophytic conditions. This hardy plant can survive temperatures as low as 8 degrees Fahrenheit.
Yucca madrensis
Yucca madrensis is a plant native to the Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico, growing on steep, rocky slopes. It features narrow, deer-resistant leaves and 7-foot tall solitary stalks, thriving in dry pine-oak forests.
Yucca mixtecana
Yucca mixtecana is a striking plant native to the dry, rocky hills of Oaxaca, Mexico. It can grow up to 20 feet tall, with evergreen leaves and a distinctive flower spike in spring. This yucca is well-suited to hot, arid environments and is known for its drought resistance and unique appearance.
Yucca aloifolia
Yucca aloifolia, commonly known as Spanish Bayonet, is a striking evergreen plant native to the southeastern United States. It features sharp, sword-like leaves that can reach up to 8 feet tall, with a unique bicolor margin of dark green, light green, and creamy yellow that turns pink in winter. This plant is known for its dramatic 3-foot spikes of white, bell-shaped flowers that bloom in early summer. It thrives in sandy soils, particularly along coastal dunes, and is well-suited for USDA zones 8 through 11. Yucca aloifolia is also deer-resistant and can withstand drought conditions, making it a hardy choice for xeriscaping. Its roots have traditional uses as soap and shampoo, adding to its versatility. The plant's erect trunk can grow up to 20 feet tall, providing a bold architectural element to gardens. Despite its toughness, it dislikes prolonged exposure to temperatures below 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
Yucca elata var. verdiensis
Yucca elata var. verdiensis is a hardy plant native to the dry, rocky slopes of South Central Arizona, thriving at elevations between 1,000 and 6,000 feet. It forms a symmetrical rosette of blue-green leaves and may develop a short trunk. The plant is topped with spikes of sparse white flowers, adding to its striking appearance. It is well-suited for xeriscaping and is drought-tolerant.
Yucca flaccida
Yucca flaccida, also known as Adam's needle, is a coastal form of Yucca filamentosa. It features narrow green leaves with upturned edges and produces 4-foot tall flower stalks with white bells in early summer. This plant is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, making it a resilient choice for rock gardens or perennial borders.
Yucca baileyi
Yucca baileyi, also known as Navajo yucca, is a drought-resistant shrub native to the southwestern United States. It features greenish-white to slightly purplish flowers on a tall stalk and is used by the Navajo for fibers and soap. This plant prefers dry, well-drained soil and full sun, making it suitable for arid landscapes.
Yucca necopina
Yucca necopina is a newly described perennial shrub native to Texas, characterized by its rosettes of green leaves with curly threads along the edges. It produces tall flower spikes up to 9 feet with white, bell-shaped flowers in spring. This plant grows in small colonies and is adapted to river terraces and deep sand, making it a resilient choice for xeriscaping.
Yucca gigantea
Yucca gigantea is a robust plant native to arid regions, known for its ability to produce 'pups' at the base. It prefers well-drained soil and minimal watering, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor settings. This plant is hardy and can be grown in various climates across the USA.
Yucca thompsoniana
Yucca thompsoniana, native to Texas and Northern Mexico, is a tree yucca with a single trunk and narrow, blue-grey foliage. It blooms with white flowers on tall spikes in late spring, attracting hummingbirds. This plant is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, making it suitable for xeriscaping and sunny garden areas.
Yucca baccata
Yucca baccata, native to the southwestern US and northwestern Mexico, is the hardiest of the broadleaf yuccas. It features blue-grey foliage and boat-shaped leaves up to 2 feet long, with dense white flower clusters and banana-shaped fruit. The plant grows in various desert habitats and is a larval host to the ursine giant skipper and yucca moths.
Yucca filamentosa 'Color Guard'
Yucca filamentosa 'Color Guard' is an evergreen plant with boldly variegated, sword-shaped leaves. It is tolerant of wind, heat, humidity, and drought, making it ideal for xeriscape gardens. The plant produces creamy white, bell-shaped flowers in summer, attracting hummingbirds and pollinators. It is deer and rabbit resistant but poisonous to pets.
Yucca harrimaniae
Yucca harrimaniae is a small, acaulescent species forming clumps of rosettes with grey-green leaves. It produces upright spikes of large white, bell-shaped flowers and is found in sagebrush grasslands up to 7,000 feet elevation in Utah and Colorado. This plant is deer-resistant and requires good drainage, making it suitable for sandy or gravelly slopes.
Yucca rostrata
Yucca rostrata is a striking plant native to Texas, Chihuahua, and Coahuila, known for its tall trunk and crown of narrow, powder-blue leaves. It produces large panicles of white flowers and is hardy down to USDA zone 5. This yucca is popular in desert and coastal landscaping, offering drought tolerance and deer resistance. Its unique appearance and resilience make it a standout choice for xeriscaping and ornamental gardens.
Yucca elata
Yucca elata, also known as the narrow leaf yucca, is a perennial plant native to southwestern North America. It grows upright on a trunk and can reach head height, with leaves arranged in a dense spiral whorl. This plant produces white, bell-shaped flowers and is known for its cold-hardiness and ability to thrive in sunny conditions.
Yucca gloriosa var. tristis
Yucca gloriosa var. tristis is a trunked yucca native to the southeast US, known for its weeping blue-green leaves edged with chartreuse. It produces large, white bell-shaped flowers in mid-summer and is deer-resistant. This yucca is a stunning garden specimen, thriving in sunny, well-drained locations.
Yucca rupicola
Yucca rupicola is a small, clump-forming plant native to the rocky regions of Texas and northeastern Mexico. It features twisted, lance-shaped leaves that create a wild appearance. The plant produces striking ivory bell-shaped flowers in spring, which are pollinated by nocturnal moths. Known for its drought tolerance, it thrives in dry, rocky environments and is resistant to deer. The name 'rupicola' reflects its affinity for rocky habitats. This yucca is a perennial that adds a dramatic touch to gardens with its unique foliage and flower spikes.
Yucca glauca
Yucca glauca, also known as small soapweed or Spanish bayonet, is a perennial evergreen native to central North America. It forms colonies of rosettes with long, narrow leaves and produces white to pale green flowers. This drought-tolerant plant is cold hardy and deer resistant.
Yucca angustissima
Yucca angustissima, or narrowleaf yucca, is a native plant of the southwestern US, forming colonies of basal rosettes. It features long, thin leaves and white to cream flowers. This deer-resistant plant is drought-tolerant and ideal for xeriscaping.
Yucca treculeana
Yucca treculeana is a giant plant native to the Rio Grande region of south Texas, known for its stiff, 5-foot long glaucous leaves. It forms large clumps topped with massive globes of white bell-shaped flowers. This plant can grow a thick trunk up to 12 feet tall, sometimes exceeding 20 feet. Its rigid, boat-shaped leaves and light bulb-like inflorescence make it a striking addition to landscapes. Yucca treculeana is deer-resistant and its leaves have been traditionally used for thatching, while its fruit can be fermented into a beverage.
Yucca gloriosa
Yucca gloriosa is an evergreen shrub native to the southeastern United States, known for its striking white, bell-shaped flowers. It forms a multi-headed clump reaching up to 8 feet tall, with rigid, glaucous green leaves. This plant is highly tolerant of drought and cold, surviving temperatures as low as -4°F. It thrives in sandy soils along coastal areas and is a popular choice for xeriscaping due to its low water requirements. The sharp leaf points can cause skin irritation, so caution is advised when handling.
Yucca cernua
Yucca cernua, or 'nodding Yucca', is a rare species from eastern Texas with downward-hanging flowers. It grows in disturbed habitats and features solitary rosettes of glaucous foliage, topped with tall flower spikes. This plant is a candidate for the USDA Threatened and Endangered list.
Yucca filamentosa
Yucca filamentosa is a variegated selection with green leaves and creamy white margins. It forms an 18-inch tall clump and produces 5-foot tall stalks of white bell-shaped flowers in late spring. This plant is deer-resistant and drought-tolerant.
Yucca flaccida 'Golden Sword'
Yucca flaccida 'Golden Sword' is a striking perennial with bright yellow leaves edged in dark green. It produces tall stalks of white, bell-shaped flowers in late spring. This easy-to-grow plant is deer-resistant and serves as a bold accent in gardens.