Despite their demonic-like appearance, several Yuccas are native to the southeast US rather than Hades. Their sturdy, evergreen leaves and thick roots make them impervious to heat and scalding sunlight.
Yucca filamentosa, commonly known as Adam’s Needle, has a rosette-type habit. There is no trunk or stem. Instead, leaves all generate from a central point and are roughly the same length. The leaves have loose threads hanging from the edges of their leaves, giving them a frayed look. While the leaves rarely exceed 30 inches in length, the bloom stem will shoot up to six feet tall before exploding in clusters of white, bell-shaped flowers.
Yucca aloifolia differs from Adam’s Needle in that it develops a thick, fleshy trunk that may reach a height of ten feet. The common name, Spanish Bayonet, refers to the sharp spines on the tips of the leaves. These pose a danger to eyes, ears, skin, and your resolution to stop cursing.
Yucca flaccida, Weakleaf Yucca, resembles filamentosa, but the outer leaves bend a bit, as if relaxed. One of the most popular Yuccas for sale in nurseries, ‘Colorguard,’ is sometimes listed in this group, other times in filamentosa. Colorguard has become popular for its small stature (24 to 30 inches) and neat habit. It looks especially good when planted in masses. Its leaves have a warm yellow variegation that takes on an apricot tint in cold weather, just when gardeners appreciate a warm hue in the garden. Try combining it with a groundcover of ‘Angelina’ Sedum, which also takes on a peachy shade in winter.
Yuccas’ coarse texture make a perfect contrast to bold, round leaves or fine textures like Spirea. They thrive in hot, dry, sandy sites. They tolerate salt spray near the coast and will also perform well in containers, zones 4-10.
I chuckled last week when I saw an item on Reddit in which a man is trying to find a new owner for the Yucca next to his entrance: “If you want this massive, hate-filled plant, then plan on showing up with some thick gloves, a shovel, a truck and a cavalier attitude about seeing tomorrow.”
I am convinced these tough plants would survive a nuclear blast. Since Yuccas can regenerate from a small piece of root, they reappear even after major removal efforts. There is a small forest of them growing in my woodland area, where I dumped their decapitated bodies. They somehow took root and are thriving, even in part shade. Yuccas are rarely bothered by insects or diseases, and deer ignore them.
Yucca blooms at Hatcher Garden in June. Photographer unknown.
This is ‘Colorguard’ yucca. Note the threads hanging off the leaf edges, like Yucca filamentosa. I have never seen one bloom. They reproduce by throwing “pups” to the side of the mother plant. Photographer unknown.
A group of Spanish Bayonet in the Mary Snoddy garden. A brush with those sharp leaf points results in bloodshed.