Yucca flaccida

Yucca flaccida – Adam’s Needle

Spikes of bell-shaped, creamy-white flowers rise from a basal rosette of sword-like leaves.

Habit:

The flower spike is up to 1.5m tall raising above leaves that lend to fold, so they never rise above about 60cm. This is a “stemless” Yucca, which is to say that the flowering spike rises from a basal rosette of leaves that dies after flowering. This Yucca never forms a trunk. When the flowering stem dies the plant continues through offsets around the base. Over the years this causes Y. flaccida to “wander” a little.

Origins:

Yucca flaccida is native to south-central and south-eastern United States, from the great plains to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic. In their inland range they are subject to hard frosts. This plant is fully hardy, despite looking as though it belongs in a hot desert environment.

Soil / Aspect:

Y. flaccida does need free-draining soil, especially when getting established. However, once established this is a very tough plant; tolerant of frost, drought and winds.

Maintenance:

This plant suffers from a number of moths in its native environment. In Karin’s garden its only problem seems to be ants. This plant can tend to be a bit untidy when not in flower. So, after cutting back the dead flower shoot, you do end up regularly pulling off dead leaves until a new offset establishes itself.