Long a popular choice for its easy growing, low-maintenance and contemporary nature, the yucca plant comes in many varieties, shapes and sizes. They also make a fantastic choice for us here in Australia, as every variety is incredibly drought (and neglect!) tolerant. What’s not to love?!
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Striking and impactful, the humble yucca is a landscaping-lovers dream. With their radiating, light green-grey leaves, yuccas are renowned for their ability to survive some of the driest conditions around. Despite this, some varieties have the ability to flower, producing white, teardrop blooms on a sturdy centre stem.
Just a tip though, be wary – depending on the variety you choose, a yucca’s sword-like leaves can indeed be as sharp as they look!
Yucca varieties
There are over 40 different varieties of yucca, many of which you’ll find in Australia. Yucca elephantipes is the most common variety, and is sometimes referred to as soft-tip or spineless yucca, due to the lack of spikes on its leaves. If left to grow, this variety can get up to 9m, but will just as happily reach around 1.5m in a pot indoors. Other popular varieties include the yucca filamentosa (Adam’s needle and thread), yucca aloifolia (Spanish bayonet), and the yucca brevifolia (Joshua tree).
How to grow yuccas
Yuccas will grow happily in a pot indoors or outside in the garden – just be aware that they can grow up to 8 metres if unrestricted and unpruned!
Planting
Aim to plant your yucca in the autumn months if you can, though generally speaking any sunny day will do. If you’re panting your yucca in a pot, use a good quality soil mix and a heavier pot, otherwise you might risk the whole thing tipping over once it grows!
Aspect
When it comes to position and aspect, yuccas, being a desert plant, enjoy full sun when possible. They will tolerate light shade if need be, but aim for full sun if you can.
Climate
Again, these guys love the sun, but surprisingly, they’re pretty unfazed by climate. They’re happy in cold or warm temperate environments, and both arid and tropical spots. The only thing they won’t take is frost, so if you live in a frost-prone area, it might be best to treat your yuccas as indoor plants.
Soil
Did we mention the yucca is un-fussy? Just as they’re not picky when it comes to climate, they are pretty adaptable when it comes to soil, too. Just ensure that it’s well-draining!
Water
When it’s hot and/or dry, make sure you water your yucca regularly; their leaves will shrivel to tell you when they’re thirsty. You can keep them a bit dryer in winter, but regardless, once they’re established they can go for months without water.
Fertiliser
Yuccas generally don’t require feeding, but you can do so if they are in pots with a soil improver to encourage root development, and strong, healthy leaves and flowers.
How to propagate your yucca from cuttings
Yuccas are one of those miracle plants that you can grow exponentially from cuttings. Simply select a mature plant and cut off a good-sized piece. Then, strip the bottom leaves off and place in a pot with good quality soil and water well for a few weeks. You’ll notice the roots will form pretty quickly, so after about a month you can cut back the watering and move your yucca if you please!
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