Yucca

Yucca  Yuccas include about 4 dozen species of perennials, shrubs, and trees in the Agave family, Agavaceae.  These lovely evergreen plants with sword-shaped leaves and annual clusters of white flowers are a dramatic addition to any garden. Yuccas are native to the deserts of the Americas and grow as far north as Nevada and Utah.

YU001: Hesperaloe parviflora  The Texas Red Yucca is a favorite in our garden.  The tubular coral-red flowers are on graceful 4-5 foot high stems from early June through September!  It is definitely the hummingbirds’ favorite food source.  Graceful green foliage turns maroon in winter.  3 year old seedlings about 6-8 inches high $15.

YU002: Manfreda maculosa  The Rock Lily or Texas Tuberose is a lovely Yucca relative with spineless, soft foliage that is green with red or maroon spots all over like a leopard!  The foliage grows to a foot high but the beautiful and very fragrant tubular white flowers in June grow to 24” high. Seedlings 1-2” across $6.  Blooming sized plants 6-8 inches in diameter $15.

YU003:  Yucca baccata ‘Santa Fe Form’  New!  The Banana Yucca from northern New Mexico has handsome, wide leaves up to 2-3 feet long.  The plump fruit are edible in September.  Showy white flowers on 3-4 foot high stalks.  4” plants $8

YU004 Yucca glauca x baccata Hybrid Yucca Discovered in Southern Colorado by Tom Peace.  Handsome blue-green leaves up to one inch wide.  Plants 2 feet tall and wide.  Greenish-white flowers 30” high in June/July.  An excellent garden variety.  One year old plants $8. 

YU005 Yucca faxoniana  Giant Faxon     The majestic Yucca Palms of West TX.  Broad, 2” wide leaves are 2-3 feet long.  This is the more northern zone 5 form which has snow resistant foliage and grows to 15 feet in height.  Stunning white flowers in June.  One year old plants $8.

 YU006 Yucca pallida  Texas Blue Yucca    Probably one of the best yuccas for the garden.  The broad, very blue leaves are up to 2 feet long and the white flowers in June are up to 3 feet tall.  Zone 5.  One year old plants $8.

 YU007 Yucca neomexicana   New Mexico Yucca   Narrow filamentous green leaves similar to Yucca glauca but cleaner looking in the garden.  2 feet tall and wide with greenish white flowers in June, zone 4.  One year old plants $8.

YU008:  Yucca rostrata  This form of Beaked Yucca is from the northern Chisos Mountains in West Texas.  Its powdery blue foliage is striking above vertical trunks to 10 feet tall.  It tends not to branch like Yucca thompsoniana but stay single-headed like a handsome sentinel.  These 2-year-old plants will eventually form a trunk in many years.  Hardy to zone 5.  $10.