This plant is a hardy, woodsy perennial that grows to about 18 to 20 inches, producing beautiful white flowers atop straight stems with sword-like leaves. Old leaves on the bottom of yuccas naturally die and turn brown. Thanks", "Perfect. When older leaves die on a mature yucca plant, simply cut them away, usually in the spring. The Yucca plant is a widely popular drought tolerant evergreen garden perennial. The best soil for yucca: Grow yucca plants in sandy soil with excellent drainage. As the yucca plant grows, it's necessary to thin it out by dividing it because the plant can begin to crowd itself with too many clumps packed closely together. Most of my yucca seeds look like the center has been removed - are insects to blame? These plant leaves are translucent and waxy when young and the leaves grow rough as the plant ages. It is a popular indoor plant that adds a touch of green to every space. He has a Masters in Public Health Nutrition and Public Health Planning and Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. This is because yucca can survive well in areas with low nutrients. We cut the stem off ours every year. Bigger varieties are planted outdoors whilst smaller ones can occupy spaces indoors.Grow in indirect light close to a South facing window (1.5 m, 5 feet distance).If you have an East facing window then place them on the window shelf so that they get the morning light. The plant is heat and drought tolerant, and can even withstand the salty air of a coastal garden. The easiest propagation method involves division of an already mature plant. Although called Red Yucca, Hesperaloe parviflora is more closely related to the Agaves than the Yuccas, and its showy blooms, carried on long, arching stalks, are generally rosy-pink or salmon.A native of the Chihuahuan desert of northern Mexico, the plant is heat and drought tolerant and recommended for USDA hardiness zones 5 to 11. The Yucca plant, when kept as a houseplant, needs to be watered moderately during its growth period in spring and summer and sparingly during its resting period in fall and winter. This is more labor-intensive, but may provide additional drainage. Reduce the frequency of watering if your yucca plant develops brown tips with yellow rings around them. In areas where rainfall is sporadic and sometimes torrential, it still thrives as long as it is growing in well-draining soil. Check them for insects and. Video of the Day The stiff, leathery leaves are armed with prickly spines. References The leaves are long and pointy, sometimes even razor-sharp. Liberally watering the yucca the day before taking a cutting allows the stem, also … You can harvest yucca flowers. This gives it time to adjust, reducing the chance of burning or withering. Yucca baccata: Grows up to 5 feet with shorter, almost blue leaves and purple and off-white flowers in spring. If my yucca was broken by a falling tree, can it grow back from the stump? ", "Very good article. Thank you very much. Last Updated: February 21, 2020 Also known as the Banana Yucca because of the shape of its fruits, which are edible. It doesn’t matter if you cut it off or not. As the age gradually increases, the lower leaves shed and bare stem will appear. Then, dig in a circle around the plant about 5 inches outside of the shoot, and as you dig, start lifting up the plant until you can remove the whole shoot and root ball from the ground. Andrew Carberry has been working in food systems since 2008. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Over time, most species of yucca will grow into room-devouring monsters, but this takes long enough that they provide years of durable … The yucca plant is a tough perennial succulent that can grow as a shrub or a tree, depending on the species. Yucca plants are perennial shrubs or trees belonging to the Asparagaceae family. A completely open space, however, is not recommended. For more guidance from our Gardener reviewer, including how to grow yucca from seeds, keep reading! More specific watering requirements will depend on how much light your yucca plant … Low pH or high pH... sand or clay...a yucca plant will be happy in just about anything. Should I cut the flowering stem of my yucca glorioser? Sand from stream banks is usually acceptable. Stems and offsets can be cut, the bottom few inches stripped of leaves and the cuttings planted and treated gently until they root. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. When planting a yucca cane directly in the ground, dig a hole twice as large as the plant’s roots and mix fresh soil in with sand to help mimic the desert environment. You can use a standard timber hand saw. How great is that? wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Plant the yucca with other plants that thrive in dry conditions. If you kill a yucca, it's probably due to overwatering. It has been two weeks since I cut off the yuccas to be replanted. This article was co-authored by Andrew Carberry, MPH. It takes 4 to 6 weeks for the seeds to germinate. ", very clear and had concise details. This method is described in the next section. Yucca filamentosa ‘color guard’ can easily be grown in well-drained, sandy soils. Yucca is a plant with large, long, sword-shaped leaves. This article will deal with caring for this plant, taking into account its light, soil, water, and other requirements. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. The best time to plant is in the spring – this is also when your plant will begin blooming (although this varies depending on the plant). As far as houseplants go, yucca probably eclipsed by the similar-looking Dracaena genus, which is often mistaken for yucca. This is a sign of over-watering. The slender leaves, which end in a spine, can reach a length of over two feet long on large plants. For a quicker process, take a cutting from an existing adult yucca plant. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 245,033 times. For more guidance from our Gardener reviewer, including how to grow yucca from seeds, keep reading! Trunked yuccas like Yucca aloifolia will develop a 'skirt' of old leaves much like a palm tree does and they can be pruned away or left in place depending on your aesthetic...some people like their yuccas with a skirt and others prefer skirt-less yucca plants. Outdoors. Sow seed in spring at 13-18°C (55-64°F) for hardy yuccas and 19-24°C (66-75°F) for tender ones. The yucca's native environment consists of arid conditions with low rainfall and poor soil. And nobody likes a skinny Yucca. Curled threads line the edges o… The illustrations were, "I wanted to know how to grow yucca plants from seed. Only fertilize more quickly if your yucca is a fast-growing species. Similarly, if you miss a monthly fertilization in the summer, it is not a big deal. You can also use a shovel to dig up a section of rhizome, cut it into 3 inch sections and plant them. It is now back and robust with no special care. Sharp-tipped leaves mean you should plant yucca plants away from sidewalks, paths, mailboxes and driveways. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Individual Yucca plants can grow 3' wide and with offsets, a Yucca clump can be several times that so give your garden visitors plenty of space to walk around your Yucca. Enjoy! Planting yucca Indoors. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. The succulent grows in clumps of grass-like, blue … As long as it is well-draining, Yucca does not care what type of soil you plant it in. Also, if you dig up the plant and leave any sections of roots in the ground, they will resprout into new plants. Dividing yuccas to control their growth works on the same principle. unlocking this expert answer. You can propagate Yucca via division, root cuttings, stem cuttings and seeds. Yucca plants prefer to be on the dry side and are considered drought-tolerant plants, which makes sense given their desert origins. Water your plant weekly, but only enough to slightly moisten the soil, and routinely prune off withered leaves to care for your plant. If you would like, you can dip the end of the stem in a rooting hormone or a homemade root stimulant at this point. This central, long root can be quite long in some yucca species. Yucca plants are quite drought tolerant due to their thick waxy leaves so they don't require much water after establishment. In this case, 91% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Yucca is a genus of perennial plants of 40-50 species found in dry regions, and comes under the Agavaceae family. Water the Yucca. Get expert advice, now. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. By using our site, you agree to our. ", Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow, http://www.gardenershq.com/Yucca-plant.php, http://www.weekendgardener.net/perennial-flowers/yucca.plant.htm, http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Gardening-Tips-Books-Techniques-and-Tools/Yucca-Cutting/2959, http://dotpointing.com.au/growing-yuccas/, http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2383/, http://www.perennialnursery.com/guides/yucca.html, http://www.ourhouseplants.com/plants/yucca, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. One way of propagating yuccas is to cut the rhizomes with baby plants from the main root. Most yucca species are slow-growing and can be harmed by excess fertilizer. Dig 3 to 4 feet (0.91 to 1.22 m) into the ground. Yucca aloifolia 'Variegata'. Here at Plant Delights Nursery we have been growing Yucca plants in our garden for over 25 years and we want to share the top tips for growing Yucca plants as well as the names of our favorite yuccas. While the many species of yucca vary in size and color, they are all able to thrive in hot, dry climates and can be cared for in the same way. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The yucca plant, which has many different varieties, can be grown both indoors as well as outdoors. You should see growth from rhizome cuttings in about a month. However, landscape specimens always look better with regular watering during the growing season (spring and summer)...about an inch per week is enough. I am now ready for the coming months. Will they still grow? Alternatively, tightly pack one or two dozen large stones that measure about 1 foot (0.3 m). Yucca canerosana (Y. faxoniana): Can grow up to 12 feet by six feet wide and tolerates part shade. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Grow-Yucca-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Grow-Yucca-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/87\/Grow-Yucca-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/aid2296901-v4-728px-Grow-Yucca-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"