Scientific Name
Yucca desmetiana Baker
Synonym(s)
Yucca de-smetiana, Yucca 'De Smetiana'
Scientific Classification
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Agavoideae
Genus: Yucca
Description
Yucca desmetiana is an ornamental plant that usually has a single-stemmed rosette when young and becomes multi-stemmed with age. The leaves are initially bluish-grey and turn burgundy as they mature, especially in winter. They are soft, sword-shaped, arching, and can grow up to 16 inches (40 cm) long and 0.8 inches (2 cm) wide.
Flowering has not been observed to date.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 40 °F (+4.4 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Under the right conditions, Yuccas are not difficult plants to grow. They tend to thrive on a little neglect rather than too much attention. They are especially easy to overwater, and soggy stems are a sign of too much water. The best conditions for Yuccas include a sunny corner with relatively low humidity. Although scale can be an issue, they are not prone to many pests. Over time, 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.
Yuccas are relatively slow-growing plants that should only need to be repotted every other year. They do well slightly pot-bound as long as they don't become heavy enough to tip over their containers. Repotting larger plants can be difficult, so larger plants can be refreshed with new potting soil by digging out the top 2 inches (5 cm) of the container and adding new soil. During typical repotting, remove the plant from its container and go up one container size. Always use fresh potting soil.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Yucca.
Origin
Yucca desmetiana is native to northern Mexico and occurs from Chihuahua south of Aguascalientes and east to San Luís Potosí and Tamaulipas. It was described based on a cultivated plant and might be a natural hybrid that results from a cross between Yucca aloifolia and Yucca recurvifolia or Yucca filamentosa.
Links
- Back to genus Yucca
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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