Herself’s Houston Garden

This plant is also known as Great Plains Yucca, Dagger plant, and Spanish Bayonet.

Yuccas prefer dry, rocky areas and will spread extensively given the right growing conditions, roots can grow sideways as far as 30′. Be sure you like this plant before you plant it. Removal may be impossible once it is established. It is very drought tolerant and prefers full sun. This yucca will reach about 2′ tall and about 3′ across when grown.

Flowers will be white on stalks like traditional yucca but closer to the ground. Flowering is late May through July. Flowers close during the hottest part of the day and open at night to be pollinated by moths. The pollen is extremely heavy and sticky and is not carried by the wind but only by the moths. Female moths form balls of pollen which they take to other flowers and use to protect the egg they implant deep in the flower.

Yuccas store water in the trunk of the plant.  Some have flexible soft leaves, some have stiff leaves.  Most all will form trunks with time. When trunks form, the dead leaves remain covering the stem.  Leave the dead leaves in place, the shelter the stem from extreme heat and sun.

Many yuccas do not bloom every year.  Many bloom after floods or rainy spells.  If you’re having trouble getting one to bloom try giving it a really good soaking.

Yuccas are better’n most succulents about being in beds with plants that require more water.

Roots form a soap like foam when wet. Yucca is the state flower of New Mexico.