Red yucca

Sun

Full sun; tolerates light shade but flowers less freely.

Water

Low once established. Water during establishment, letting the soil dry between waterings; established plants benefit from occasional deep watering during prolonged drought.

Soil

Sharply drained sandy, gravelly or rocky soil. Tolerates poor soil and a broad pH range, but struggles in wet clay and winter-wet ground.

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m) in leaf; 4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m) in flower

Spread

3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m)

Flowers

Coral-red to pink tubular flowers, usually with yellow interiors, from late spring through summer; flowering can continue into autumn in warm climates.

Foliage

Evergreen. Narrow, leathery, blue-green leaves form an arching basal clump. Curly white threads line the leaf edges, and foliage may take on purple tones in cold weather.

Growth

Slow to moderate

Care needed

Low

• Plant with the crown at soil level in a sunny position with excellent drainage.
• Water newly planted clumps deeply when the root zone dries; avoid frequent shallow watering.
• Do not routinely feed plants in the ground; rich soil and heavy feeding are unnecessary.
• Use gravel mulch around the plant, keeping the crown clear of damp organic mulch.
• In cold or wet climates, use a raised bed or a container protected from persistent winter rain.

Pruning. Cut spent flower stems near their base after flowering, or leave the seed capsules until late winter. Remove dead outer leaves individually in spring; do not shear the clump or shorten healthy leaves.

Spring

Remove dead leaves and any old flower stems, checking the crown for winter rot.

Mid to late spring

Plant or divide once the soil has warmed and severe frost has passed.

Late spring

Check emerging flower stems for aphids and wash small colonies off with water.

Summer

Water establishing plants when the root zone dries; give established clumps an occasional deep soak during prolonged drought.

Autumn

Collect ripe seed if wanted and clear fallen leaves from the crown.

Winter

Keep drainage outlets clear and shelter containers from prolonged rain in wet climates.

• Repeat clumps through gravel gardens with low stonecrops and ornamental grasses for a consistent evergreen structure.
• Use beside boulders and paving in dry courtyards, where the arching foliage softens hard edges.
• Combine with autumn sage and prickly pears in sunny, drought-tolerant borders for contrasting leaf shapes and long-lasting colour.
• Grow in a large, freely draining container as an architectural accent on a sunny terrace.

Garden styles it suits: Desert modern, Architectural minimal, Dry gravel garden, Desert / xeriscape, Southwestern and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Autumn sage, Lavender, Yarrow, Blue grama, Stonecrop and Prickly pear.

Wildlife: Flowers attract hummingbirds where they occur in North America, as well as bees and other flower-visiting insects. Deer may eat the flower stalks even when they leave the foliage alone.

• Crown or root rot in wet soil: improve drainage, reduce watering and replace badly rotted plants in a drier position.
• Aphids on flower stems: dislodge with a firm spray of water; use insecticidal soap only if needed, avoiding open flowers.
• Little or no flowering: give the plant full sun and avoid heavy feeding; young plants may take several years to bloom.
• Winter leaf damage or losses: avoid frost pockets and winter-wet ground; cold tolerance is much better in sharply drained soil.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, although species-specific safety information is limited. No particular part is established as poisonous; it is not an edible plant, and the tough leaves and pointed tips can cause physical injury. Do not assume it has the same toxicity as true yuccas.

• Adam's needle (Yucca filamentosa)

  Has broader, stiffer, sword-shaped leaves and large, creamy-white bell-shaped flowers rather than narrow coral-pink tubes.

• Beargrass (Nolina texana)

  Forms a grassy mound with finely toothed leaf margins and dense clusters of tiny cream flowers, not prominent tubular flowers.

• Giant hesperaloe (Hesperaloe funifera)

  Makes a much larger, more upright clump with broader, rigid leaves and tall, branched sprays of greenish-white flowers.

Hesperaloe combines Greek words meaning 'western aloe', parviflora means 'small-flowered', and red yucca refers to its flower colour and yucca-like foliage.

Propagation. Separate well-rooted offsets in spring, using a sharp spade and retaining roots on each division. Alternatively, sow ripe seed in a warm position in a freely draining seed mix; seedlings take several years to reach flowering size.

Accepted botanical name

Hesperaloe parviflora

In the US and Canada

Native in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Mexico Northeast and Texas.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.