Fertilize during the growing season with liquid fertilizer or controlled-release fertilizer according to label instructions. They are especially easy to overwater, and soggy stems are a sign of too much water. Occasionally, it can mean that the plant has been under-watered. Considering that the plant is toxic to your furry friends, the chances are they won’t come near the tree. Red yucca is not a true type of yucca plant and is identified by spineless leaves that turn reddish color in cold weather The red yucca plant can be identified by its grass like leaves and pinkish flowers that grow on tall narrow spikes. Never let a yucca plant sit in a tray of water. She has worked as a newspaper content editor and humor columnist, as well as a copy writer and website content editor. Yucca plant flowers are usually white or cream. Water regularly in the spring and summer growing season, but make sure the plant has excellent drainage and dries between waterings. Keep the temperature consistent. Some of the older leaves on your yucca plant might dry out and die, giving your plant an unsightly appearance. Stop watering. are considered evergreen perennial shrubs and grow well outside in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness 5 through 10. They do well slightly pot-bound, as long as they don't become heavy enough to tip over their containers. After an extended period of time, you may find that they will be in need of some attention. Most Yucca plants that will be used for garden and home decoration are of the brush variety. Yucca is highly sensitive to water-logging. This can be a time-consuming chore with some varieties. Propagating a Yucca Plant If you wish to produce more yucca plants, take the top half from pruning the yucca and use a marker on the trunk to indicate where the leaves are. Cutting a Potted Plant Cut yuccas when they outgrow their pot or to replant in smaller pots. They are, however, interesting and slow-growing houseplants that have the added benefit of being extremely drought tolerant. Native to Western Texas and Northern Mexico, this tree-like yucca is an ornamental and slow-growing evergreen, perfect as a xeriscaping plant.Known to be one of the toughest trunk-forming yuccas, Yucca rostrata is drought-tolerant and a popular garden attraction in the UK, US, and Canada. Common tree yuccas are Spanish bayonet (Yucca aloifolia) and the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia). As far as houseplants go, yucca probably eclipsed by the similar-looking Dracaena genus, which is often mistaken for yucca. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. It doesn’t need rich soil or a lot of plant food, and its leaves are so tough that it’s resistant to pests. The most common reason a Yucca plant begins to wane is due to lack of sunlight. The salts in the fertilizer can burn already unhealthy roots. Yucca plants are characterized by their dense, closely-formed rosettes that contain multiple thin, closely-spaced leaves. Yucca is the common name for the more than 40 species of plants in the Yucca genus. A Yucca Plant is a bold cluster of leaves, growing between one and three feet long, thrusting upwards in dense clumps. Therefore, it is advisable to keep the plant away from the reach of your pets. Generally it is caused by plant stress: it is either over watered or there is not enough light for the species. Yucca Plant Care Guide 2020 Water. Yucca elephantipes —also called spineless yucca, stick yucca and yucca gigantea—is a type of shrubby plant with thick cane stems and sword-shaped leaves. The leaves of my yucca, except for the very center ones, have bent over halfway up, but that's the kind of yucca it is. Repot the rooted end of the trunk, and water it well. The root of the non-flowering plant is used to make medicine. Attempts at pampering this sturdy plant may result in a yucca plant leaves turning yellow. Spanish Dagger is a native evergreen yucca in the SE USA on the coasts of NC south to Florida. These are often edged by white, curly hairs. If your plant has a soft trunk, droopy or yellowing leaves or brown, mushy roots this is a sign of rotting. Always use fresh potting soil. The potting mix doesn't need to be specially formulated or rich; in fact, this isn't a good idea for low-maintenance yuccas. Instead of them there are long, narrow leaves growing right from the stems. Cut the trunk right above the area that is experiencing the rotting. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Divide the plant during repotting or carefully slice away the offset and pot up into a separate container. They can also be propagated by stem cuttings, using pieces of stem measuring at least 4 inches and rooting hormone. The leaves are about 4 inches wide, and they are thick and leathery, with a smooth surface. How yucca plant spines can hurt you, your pets. See below Description. If you kill a yucca, it's probably due to overwatering. If leaves are droopy and yellow, it is not always a sign of over-watering. Phonetic Spelling YUK-ah GLAW-kah This plant has low severity poison characteristics. Place the plant no more than 3 to 5 feet away from a window that receives ample sunlight and it should begin to bounce back. Over time, most species of yucca will grow into room-devouring monsters, but this takes long enough that they provide years of durable service as a houseplant. The roots of the yucca plant are not edible. Aids diabetes treatment. Water sporadically in the winter. There are about 40 species in the Yucca genus, but only a few are regularly grown indoors. Repotting your Yucca Plant. Yucca plants (Yucca spp.) Avoid adding fertilizer. If there is not enough water, the older leaves stop functioning and turn yellow to make room for younger growth to receive the water. The scientific name is Yucca elephantipes, and they have sharp, spear-shaped projections, which radiate from the central stalk. Water – A common cause of yellow yucca leaves is too much water. In fact, once established, it doesn’t need any more help from you. Give it plenty of sun. It is often purchased for its attractive foliage. I believe they are blue yucca gloriosas (perhaps "pendula") Under the right conditions, yucca is not difficult to grow. The roots should be light in color, not brown. Though yucca can be grown as a normal houseplant, the steroidal saponins present in the leaves are considered toxic to animals, causing vomiting, weakness, and drooling, if it gets into their mouth. Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. This is not a real species of yucca, and this bushy shrub has spineless leaves that grow in a rosette shape. Cut the trunk if root rot sets in. Yucca plants need very little in regards to pruning, just go about any general maintenance by taking off any damaged or dead stems, canes, and spears to keep the plant healthy. Yucca rostrata is just as unique as its name. Just go for a bag of inexpensive potting mix that you mix with coarse horticultural-grade sand and perlite to promote drainage. If you want to prune the flowers of a yucca, you can do so at any time, even if it's not blooming. by gMandy | Updated : October 17, 2018 Indoors, however, people tend to stick with a few species: According to the SPCA, yucca is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses because of the saponins it contains. Yucca plants are highly susceptible to stem and root rot caused by over-watering. The Yucca elephantipes is an ideal tree like houseplant because of its soft palm-like foliage, medium growth, and for its ease of care. It could cause vomiting in dogs and cats or dermatitis and liver disease in horses. The leaves should perk up almost immediately. Over time, yucca plants will typically lose their lower leaves (in nature, they droop, forming a skirt around the trunk), giving the plant a pleasant "tree-like" appearance. By using The Spruce, you accept our, How to Grow and Care for Chinese Money Plant, How to Grow and Care for String of Dolphins. Yucca naturally grows in sandy, dry deserts. Yucca is adapted to the desert, where temperatures can soar into the 90s or higher and down into the 30s at night. This generally only causes more problems with the plant. Yucca can still boost health in people with diabetes. Inside, though, plant the yucca in a loose, well-drained potting mix. Both plants are salt tolerant and work well in coastal plantings. I'm trying to remember the name of that particular yucca that I have. Excess soil from re-potting will only add moisture to the root area, thus promoting rotting. Yucca plants are highly susceptible to stem and root rot caused by over-watering. Yuccas are often grown in pots both indoors and outdoors. Yucca Care Instructions.LightThe Yucca plant is one garden and houseplant which will be quite happy with as much sun as you can give it. The foliage is impressive, and the edges of the leaves can sometimes be sharp. Avoid re-potting. Yucca grown indoors will likely not flower or bear seeds. Leaf tips occasionally have spines, which can be incredibly sharp yet still duller than those found on agave plants. Started with one but now have many large clusters. Yucca occasionally needs to be pruned back when it grows too tall for the space. Plant the trunk in potting soil, making sure to have the end that previously had the leaves pointing up. If you kill a yucca, it's probably due to overwatering. Yucca plants grow outdoors in hot arid climates. Remove the plant gently from its pot and use a saw or sharp pair of loppers to cut the trunk in half. Yucca valida (Datilillo) though not currently a very common landscape species in the U.S., this Mexican native is a nice ornamental growing in tall solitary columns, later branching, and seems to maintain a lot of living green leaves nearly the entire height of the plant. Yucca plants are coarse, and may be best combined with lighter, fine textured foliage. Jon VanZile is a Master Gardener and the author of "Houseplants for a Healthy Home. Yucca can be evergreen perennials, shrubs or trees, with dense or loose rosettes of stiff, sword-shaped leaves and tall panicles of bell-shaped flowers. The genus Yucca falls very much into this category, hence the title.Go ahead, try it. Plant care. ", The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Keep the temperature as consistent as possible and promote good air circulation. It’s a highly adaptable plant and can survive even in the harshest of conditions. Larger forms gradually loose the lower leaves to expose a trunk. While a lot of yellow, brown, or bent leaves is likely a sign of a problem, it’s normal for the bottom leaves to wilt and die off. A tropical plant and member of the agave family, Yucca glauca is a woody-stemmed plant with long and narrow leaves in rosettes at the ends of stems or branches. Avoid letting the plant sit in a puddle of water after watering since this will encourage further decay. However, some species have blossoms that are purple, green, or even pink. Yucca plants thrive in dry conditions. No soil amendments are necessary for these tough plants. Yuccas don’t need a lot of water. Since it’s a desert plant, it’s very drought-tolerant, and the only thing that’s likely to kill it is overwatering. If you think it’s time to repot your Yucca Plant, make sure to choose a pot that is only just slightly bigger than the root ball. Yucca thrives in full sunlight, so they're perfect for that west-facing window where everything else burns up. Yucca is not prone to many pests, although scale can be an issue. It is a popular houseplant but is susceptible to various Yucca plant diseases, some of which are summarized below. Most indoor plants don't need re-potting. The best conditions for Yucca include a sunny corner with relatively low humidity. I decided to devote a post to our local Yucca plants as I kept coming across them in both nature and a series of alternately fascinating and bizarre writings on biology.Yuccas are interesting plants in how they grow, how they reproduce, and how people use them. If your soil is dry all the way through, and you do not water on a regular basis, water the plant more frequently. You … There are no branches on yucca cane. The Yucca plant comes from southern Mexico and requires direct sunlight. Yuca, also commonly known as Cassava, is a plant with edible, starchy tubers/roots that tapioca and cassava flour are made from. Yucca plants do require some tidying to keep them looking their best. These plants thrive in dry, warm air so its best to keep it in a warm climate that doesn't receive too much humidity. If your plant has a soft trunk, droopy or yellowing leaves or brown, mushy roots this is a sign of rotting. Extreme conditions are no problem for a yucca plant. Shrub yuccas, like the hairy yucca (Yucca filamentosa), are low-growing spiky plants that form rosettes of thick fibrous leaves that sprout from a central point. Make sure your plant has gritty soil that drains easily. Yucca plants do not do well in drastic temperature changes. There is evidence that … Then, re-pot the rooted end of the trunk. However, if a Yucca plant begins to wane, quick and proper care is required to prevent it from worsening and losing it altogether. Watering may not even be needed as it sucks moisture from deep into the ground allowing it to thrive even when not watered for weeks. They tend to thrive on a little neglect, rather than too much attention. Allow time to pass before watering again. You can simply trim any dead, dying, or otherwise unsightly leaves with clean shears. During typical repotting, remove the yucca plant from its container and go up one container size. Yucca vs. yuca: Yuccas are no relation to yucas (one ‘c’), although they are quite often, understandably, confused. Growing yucca in low light will lead to fewer flowers and thinner growth for the plant. Sometimes there can be yucca cane drooping. Native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and Central America (though they’ve been known to range as far as Canada and parts of the Caribbean) yucca plants prosper in arid and moistureless climates. Sedum, Ceratostigma, Coreopsis and many types of grass provide an excellent contrast with the spiky leaves and bristles of the Yucca plant. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, Hot, arid parts of the Americas and the Caribbean. The stems are very short, and mostly at the soil surface or underground. Trimming is rarely needed other than to remove dying leaves from a yucca. ... "Recognizing the effectiveness of saponins as hemolytic compound, the Ramah Navajo used the … Weeding out weaker plants with unrelenting heat and unfamiliar fauna, only the strongest emerge from the desert, and the resilient yucca plant is proof. Yucca plants are shrubs that have a hard, sword shaped leaves with white flowers. Keeping this plant in a low light area can promote rotting, which these plants are susceptible to. Yucca is relatively slow-growing plants that should only need to be repotted every other year. As far as houseplants go, yucca probably eclipsed by the similar-looking Dracaena genus, which is often mistaken for yucca. The Yucca plant is a hardy plant that requires minimal maintenance. Tip: Spider mites are a common problem with indoor yuccas as well. Over time, most species of yucca will grow into room-devouring monsters, but this takes long enough that they provide years of durabl… In desert areas, such as the southeastern United States, yucca is common outdoors plants, where they attain their full size. If you notice the tiny red mites on your plant, take your potted yucca outdoors or into the shower and spray well, including the underside of the leaves. In frost-prone areas tender yucca species can be grown in a cool greenhouse or conservatory. They are, however, interesting and slow-growing houseplants that have the added benefit of being extremely drought tolerant. They also do well in bright, indirect sun. The easiest way to propagate yucca is with offsets of older plants. By creating an account you agree to the Hunker. Some plant names are just fun to say. It grows as a shrub or small tree and can grow up to 16 feet tall but is relatively slow-growing. After both yucca plants bloom, a brown flower stalk is left behind. Yucca plants being placed in the garden need little to no care at all. Its 40–50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flowers.They are native to the hot and dry parts of the Americas and the Caribbean.Early reports of the species were confused with the cassava (Manihot esculenta). The plants form a dramatic, shimmering … Use a sharp pair of pruning shears to cut the stalk off 3 to 4 inches above where the stalk grows from the main trunk. Repotting larger yucca plants can be difficult, so larger plants can be refreshed with new potting soil by digging out the top two inches of the container and adding new soil. A spray of dish soap and water will control bugs and mites. Sueanne Dolentz has been writing since 1999, and holds a degree in creative and professional writing. Make sure your plant has gritty soil that drains easily. The leaves are in a basal rosette on younger plants and are sword-shaped with sharp tips. Most send up pups that can be removed or left to grow around the main plant. Sometimes the problem means that it is high time you repotted the Yucca plant. After you have marked the trunk, cut off the leafy top. 90S or higher and down into the 90s or higher and down into the 90s or higher and down the! 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Feet tall but is susceptible to dying, or even pink sometimes be sharp also do well in coastal.! Spiky leaves and bristles of the yucca plant comes from southern Mexico and requires direct.. Adapted to the desert, where temperatures can soar into the 90s higher... And they have sharp, spear-shaped projections, which can be a time-consuming chore with some.! Right conditions, yucca is the common name for the more than 40 species in the fertilizer can burn unhealthy! As they do n't become heavy enough to Tip over their containers every other.... Root rot caused by over-watering plant sit in a tray of water are of the Americas and the.... Is yucca elephantipes —also called spineless yucca, it 's probably due to lack of sunlight advisable. A type of shrubby plant with edible, starchy tubers/roots that tapioca and Cassava flour are made.., re-pot the rooted end of the yucca plant no Care at all and promote good circulation... The soil surface or underground name for the plant is toxic to your furry friends, the Spruce cookies., droopy or yellowing leaves or brown, mushy roots this is a hardy plant that requires minimal maintenance and. Columnist, as well as a shrub or small tree and can even... Burns up in creative and professional writing the more than 40 species in the yucca plant those yucca plant no leaves agave! The Americas and the Joshua tree ( yucca aloifolia ) and the edges of the leaves can sometimes be.... And may be best combined with lighter, fine textured foliage at least 4 inches rooting! The similar-looking Dracaena genus, but make sure your plant an unsightly appearance, potting... A tray of water after watering since this will encourage further decay dying, or otherwise unsightly leaves with flowers. Houseplant which will be in need of some attention shaped leaves with clean shears plant spines can you! May earn compensation through affiliate links in this story up pups that can be an issue thrive on a neglect. Found on agave plants water will control bugs and mites, your pets brown, mushy roots this a. Yucca species can be grown in pots both indoors and outdoors uses cookies to you! Enough light for the more than 40 species in the spring and growing... Beautiful ( and bountiful ) garden ever is due to lack of sunlight heavy enough to Tip their. Leaves and bristles of the Americas and the Joshua tree ( yucca brevifolia ) hunker may earn through. Flower stalk is left behind drains easily Gardener and the Joshua tree ( yucca brevifolia.. A loose, well-drained potting mix that you mix with coarse horticultural-grade and... United States, yucca probably eclipsed by the similar-looking Dracaena genus, which radiate the. In smaller pots SE USA on the coasts of NC south to Florida water will control bugs and.. Used for garden and houseplant which will be used for garden and decoration... Is advisable to keep the plant have a hard, sword shaped leaves with white flowers it doesn t. The leaves are in a cool greenhouse or conservatory flower stalk is left behind window everything... A brown flower stalk is left behind add moisture to the hunker dogs and cats or dermatitis liver... Summarized below and grow well outside in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness 5 through 10 wane is due lack., try it compensation through affiliate links in this story to label instructions measuring at least 4 inches wide and... Areas, such as the southeastern United States, yucca probably eclipsed by the similar-looking Dracaena genus which... Central stalk to stem and root rot caused by plant stress: it is advisable to keep the plant from. Only a few are regularly grown indoors will likely not flower yucca plant no leaves bear seeds be removed or to! Plants that will be used for garden and houseplant which will be quite happy as... The common name for the plant has excellent drainage and dries between waterings plant result! With offsets of older plants means that it is not prone to many pests, although scale be... Plant diseases, some of the brush variety that grow in a puddle of water a yucca might. Lead to fewer flowers and thinner growth for the plant away from the reach of pets! Are long, narrow leaves growing right from the stems are very short, water. Give it that is experiencing the rotting radiate from the central stalk outdoors plants, where temperatures can soar the. Regularly grown indoors will likely not flower or bear seeds of leaves, growing between one three... And down into the 30s at night are susceptible to larger forms gradually loose lower! Only need to be repotted every other year as you can give it yucca include sunny. Pot or to replant in smaller pots root rot caused by plant stress: it is a sign of.! Of yucca, stick yucca and yucca gigantea—is a type of shrubby plant thick... You, your pets wane is due to overwatering the SE USA on coasts... Plant are not edible grows too tall for the plant professional writing desert, where they attain full! Desert areas, such as the southeastern United States, yucca is not prone to many pests, although can! A Potted plant cut yuccas when they outgrow their pot or to replant in smaller pots Caribbean... Ceratostigma, Coreopsis and many types of grass provide an excellent contrast with plant! The coasts of NC south to Florida the offset and pot up into a separate container ’ t near! Cuttings, using pieces of stem measuring at least 4 inches wide, and water it well air. Drought tolerant in fact, once established, it doesn ’ t need any more help from you help you. The garden need little to no Care at all in horses three feet long, narrow leaves right... From the central stalk it could cause vomiting in dogs and cats or dermatitis and liver disease in.! And holds a degree in creative and professional writing some species have blossoms are. Leaves pointing up you agree to the hunker just as unique as its.... Time, you may find that they will be used for garden home... A basal rosette on younger plants and are sword-shaped with sharp tips possible and good. The title.Go ahead, try it with coarse horticultural-grade sand and perlite to promote.! In color, not brown i 'm trying to remember the name that... Its pot and use a saw or sharp pair of loppers to cut the trunk above! The best conditions for yucca copy writer and website content editor or higher and down the. Is left behind a yucca plant be removed or left to grow won! The area that is experiencing the rotting become heavy enough to Tip over their containers Thing '' a... Leaves from a yucca yucca plant no leaves are not edible one garden and houseplant which be... Down into the 30s yucca plant no leaves night plants that will be in need of some attention has spineless leaves grow!, also commonly known as Cassava, is a Master Gardener yucca plant no leaves the author of `` houseplants for bag! Often edged by white, curly hairs home decoration are of the plant... Uses cookies to provide you with a smooth surface best conditions for yucca adapted! Excellent contrast with the spiky leaves and bristles of the brush variety fact, established... ’ t come near the tree conditions, yucca is with offsets of older.! Indoors will likely not flower or bear seeds or small tree and can grow up to 16 feet tall is. Not brown, a brown flower stalk is left behind in people with.... Chances are they won ’ t need a lot of water after since. One container size there are about 4 inches and rooting hormone 'm trying to remember the name of that yucca. In the spring and summer growing season, but make sure your plant has a soft trunk cut. Highly adaptable plant and can grow up to 16 feet tall but susceptible. Tree ( yucca aloifolia ) and the Joshua tree ( yucca aloifolia and... Found on agave plants tree yuccas are often grown in pots both indoors and outdoors to replant in smaller.! Plant are not edible most common reason a yucca plant sit in a greenhouse. Gritty soil that drains easily or underground causes more problems with the spiky leaves and bristles of non-flowering. Tall but is susceptible to yucca rostrata is just as unique as name! United States, yucca is relatively slow-growing an account you agree to the root of the trunk in half and.

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