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Yucca Plants: How to Grow and Care for Yucca Indoors or Outdoors

Yucca gloriosa, or Spanish dagger, growing outdoors.

Yucca gloriosa, or Spanish dagger, with its striking white summer blooms.

Photo Credit
Anna Krivitskaya
Botanical Name
Yucca spp.
Plant Type
Cacti/Succulents
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Part Sun
Soil pH
Acidic
Neutral
Bloom Time
Summer
Fall
Flower Color
White
Hardiness Zone
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Special Features
Attracts Pollinators

These hardy, sharp-leaved plants bring desert beauty to any garden or sunny room—and ask for almost nothing in return.

Written By: Lauren Landers Master Gardener and Contributing Writer

Yucca-n’t go wrong growing yucca plants in your garden, or in your home as low-maintenance indoor houseplants that blend right in with cacti, succulents, and other plants with sharp, sharp style. These North American natives grow wild from Panama to Canada, and can be cultivated as outdoor ornamentals in a wide range of places. Plus, small varieties thrive in pots indoors year-round. If yucca has “spiked” your interest, here are the top tips I’ve learned from growing them in my home and my garden!

About Yucca Plants

Also known as Adam’s Needle, the Spanish bayonet, soap trees, or palm lilies, yucca plants are desert-dwelling plants that are related to agave and belong to the Asparagus family. Historically, these plants have been hugely important to the indigenous peoples of the American Southwest, who harvested yucca for eating food and used its fibers for weaving baskets, mats, cording, and more. Today, yuccas are primarily grown for their ornamental appeal, and they also make attractive houseplants. However, these succulents are also essential pollinator plants in their native areas, and they support a wide range of wildlife, like moths, lizards, and wild birds.

Summer garden with heathers, flowering Helichrysum bracteatum Limonium Sinuatum, the tall ornamental grass Stipa gigantea evergreen exotic Yucca rostrata.
Yucca rostrata adds sculptural flair to a summer mix of heathers, strawflowers, and ornamental grasses. Credit: Joe Kuis

With over 50 species of yucca plants available, you can find a yucca to suit any garden or houseplant collection. Some small varieties stay under 1 foot tall, but other types of yucca, like the famous Joshua tree, grow into large shrubs or tree-like plants that can reach heights of over 30 feet. These plants all feature long, sword-shaped leaves that are often stiff with toothed margins, and they produce clusters of creamy-white flowers in summer to fall. That said, some yucca have striped leaves, funky trunks, and other special characteristics that give them their own unique flair!

I keep a potted yucca in a sunny window in my home, along with a few other cacti and succulents, and I find my yucca to be particularly easy to care for, undemanding in terms of water, fertilizer, and light. These hardy plants can also be grown outdoors in chilly zones 4 and up, or planted in pots and only moved outside for the summer. Just keep in mind that yucca may not be appropriate for every home, as they are toxic to pets and livestock, and their sharp leaves can slash skin if they’re not handled wisely.

Whether you’re looking for yucca landscaping ideas or the best yucca varieties for containers, there’s a species for every space.

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Planting

Whether you’re growing yucca outdoors in your garden or in pots, spring is the best time to plant them. Here are the basics you need to know!

  • Choose the perfect growing spot: Yucca grows best in full sun to lightly shaded locations with sandy soil and lots of space to spread out. If you’re growing these plants in pots, choose heavy terracotta or ceramic ones, which are less likely to tip over. Select pots that are only one or two sizes larger than the container your plant is currently in.
  • Check drainage: Well-draining soil is essential for yucca to grow well. Ensure that you grow these plants in well-draining locations or in pots with drainage holes in the base, and add perlite or sand to the potting mix before planting to help water drain even more effectively.
  • Handle with care: Yucca have sharp leaves, so you’ll want to wear sturdy gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, and potentially some eye protection when you work with them.
  • Watch for invasiveness: Although plants can’t be invasive in their native area, yucca can grow aggressively in some spots. As a result, some varieties should not be grown close to houses or other structures.
  • Plant it right: To plant, wiggle your yucca free from its pot and plant it in a hole that’s slightly larger than the plant’s root ball. Firm the soil around your plant’s roots, add mulch if you’re using it, and water well.
Young indoor Yucca growing in the ceramic flower pot standing in a room on a floor against the rough stone wall
A young indoor yucca adds sculptural style to a sunny room, thriving in a simple ceramic pot. Credit: anmbph

Growing

  • Yuccas are classic drought-tolerant plants that thrive in rock gardens and xeriscapes where rainfall is scarce and the soil is naturally dry. Outdoors, these plants pair well with other perennials that require minimal water, such as hen and chicks, agave, coneflowers, and salvia, or they can be planted on their own, allowing their striking silhouette to shine in its full glory. I always recommend growing yuccas at the rear or side of garden beds, away from walking paths, as their leaves are sharp and can cause severe damage if you accidentally brush against them.

Water
The easiest way to kill a yucca is to water it too much. These drought-tolerant plants should only be watered every week or two during the summer, and only when the soil feels dry. In winter, these plants should be watered even more sparingly, and outdoor plants often won’t need any water at all.
Light
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/selective-focus-close-yucca-gloriosa-tombak-2502559527

Yucca generally grow best in full sun locations, although outdoor plants may benefit from light afternoon shade in hot climates. If you’re keeping yucca indoors, choose a spot that receives bright, indirect light – such as an east-facing window.
Humidity
High humidity can cause yucca plants to develop fungal issues and should be avoided if possible.
Temperature
Some types of yucca are more cold hardy than others, but many varieties can grow outdoors in zones 4 and up and tolerate weather as cold as 10°F. These plants are unbothered by heat too and are naturally drought tolerant!

Fertilizer

There’s usually no need to add fertilizer or compost into the soil before planting yucca. These plants don’t need many nutrients to grow, but you can fertilize them approximately monthly in spring and summer with a balanced fertilizer if you want them to grow a little faster and flower a little more.
Toxicity
Some species are edible, but most yucca houseplants are toxic to pets and livestock, so you shouldn’t grow them in places where furry friends may get into mischief.

Types

Some types of yucca can grow over 2 feet per year, while smaller varieties may grow just a few inches. Here’s a look at some of the popular types of yucca plants for indoor or outdoor spaces:

  • Spineless yucca: One of the best options for indoor use, this small yucca features a bulbous base and sword-like leaves, giving the plant a sculptural appearance.
  • Banana yucca: This outdoor yucca produces green to dark purple seedpods that are shaped like bananas!
  • Adam’s needle: A slow-growing yucca for outdoors, this shrub-like plant is cold-hardy and produces long, attractive-looking leaves.
Banana Yucca (Yucca baccata) on south rim Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Banana yucca (Yucca baccata) bears its signature fruit—once an important traditional food in the arid Southwest. Credit:  Nikki Yancey

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Pests/Diseases

Thanks to their stiff leaves and sturdy nature, yucca are impervious to most problems. However, these plants can sometimes still develop a few issues, like:

  • Pests, such as scale, mealybugs, aphids, and fungus gnats, can feed on yucca plants and cause leaf discoloration and other problems. Watering yucca less should make fungus gnats dissipate, while organic soap sprays are the best way to control other small pests.
  • Fungal problems may cause yucca to develop spotting on its leaves and develop mushy parts. This is often caused by watering these plants from the top down, or growing them in humid areas, and may be remedied by adjusting watering practices and treating plants with an organic fungicide or neem oil spray.
  • Overwatering is one of the leading causes of yucca plant death and it can result in mushy stems and plant collapse. To avoid this, make sure to grow yucca in well-draining locations and water them only when their soil feels dry.

Potting and Repotting

How Often to Repot

Because yucca grow slowly and they don’t mind being a little rootbound, you’ll only need to repot indoor plants about once every 2 to 3 years.

When to Repot

Spring is the best time for repotting, but yucca can be repotted in other seasons if needed.

How to Repot

  • Wear gloves: Wearing gloves, long sleeves, and eye protection can help you avoid scrapes with sharp yucca leaves.
  • Choose a heavy pot: Yucca can be top heavy plants and grow best in heavy pots with drainage holes in the base. Select a pot that’s just one or two sizes bigger than your existing planter to avoid watering issues.
  • Repot right: Carefully remove your yucca from its old pot, shake away some of the dirt around its roots, and repot the plant at the same depth it was growing in its old container. If repotting your plant isn’t doable, you can also freshen the soil by scraping out some of your old potting mix and adding fresh potting mix in its place.
A woman replanting a homemade Yucca flower into a large clay pot, a wooden table with flowers near the window
Yucca plants prefer heavy pots with drainage, like this classic clay container ready by a sunny window. Credit: pundapanda

Propagation

Yucca plants can be propagated from cuttings, seeds, or offsets (pups). Your choice may depend on how patient you are and your gardening goals!

  • Seed: Growing yucca from seed is the most time-consuming process. Wait for the seed pods to dry on the plant, crush the pods to release the seeds, cold stratify the seeds in damp sand for 90 days in your fridge, and then plant the seeds in March about 1/8” deep in pots filled with seed starting mix.
  • Root division: Dividing yucca plants is the fastest way to propagate new yucca plants. Just wait until your plants mature, dig up or de-pot your yuccas in the fall, and tease apart their rhizomes to divide your plants into smaller sections.
  • Pups: If your yuccas produce offsets or pups, wait until the pups turn green, and then cut the pup off the parent plant with a sharp, sterilized knife. Make sure some of the parent plant’s rhizome is attached to the pup, plant the pup in its own pot, and keep the soil lightly moist while it’s rooting.
ucca blooms with white flowers in June. Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae

Yucca not only adds interest, but also provides nectar and habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. Credit: crystaldream

Seasonal Care

Yuccas usually don’t need pruning, but if you’re growing these plants in a climate where they aren’t winter hardy, be sure to bring potted plants indoors before cold weather hits. In chilly climates where these plants can stay outside year-round, yucca will often die back above the ground in winter. In these areas, you’ll want to stop watering yucca in September and cut the shriveled leaves down to the ground when they wither with frost. Then, cover your plants up with 6 to 8-inches of loose, lightweight mulch, stretch a tarp over the mulch, and leave this covering in place until after the last frost date of spring.

Wit and Wisdom

  • Traditionally, yucca rhizomes were used to make soaps, shampoo, and detergent — which gave rise to the plant’s nickname “soap tree.”
  • Although yucca are native to the New World, they were first introduced to Europe in the 17th century and can be found throughout many parts of the globe today.
  • Yuccas are long-lived plants that can live for 20 to 50 years, and bloom again and again. However, yucca flowers die away after they set seed.
  • In 1927, New Mexico selected the yucca as its state flower!

Houseplants
About The Author
Lauren Landers

Lauren Landers

Master Gardener and Contributing Writer

Lauren is a gardener, writer, and public speaker with over a decade of experience helping others learn about gardening, homesteading, and sustainable living.She combines years of practical gardening a...
Read More from Lauren Landers

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