Scientific Name
Yucca gigantea Lem.
Common Names
Spineless Yucca, Soft-tip Yucca, Blue-stem Yucca, Giant Yucca
Synonyms
Yucca elephantipes, Yucca guatemalensis, Dracaena lennei, Dracaena yuccoides, Sarcoyucca elephantipes, Yucca eleana, Yucca ghiesbreghtii, Yucca lenneana, Yucca mazelii, Yucca mooreana, Yucca roezlii
Scientific Classification
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Agavoideae
Genus: Yucca
Description
Yucca gigantea is a large succulent up to 30 feet (10 m) tall, with a spread up to 15 feet (4.5 m). It may have a thick, single trunk or be multitrunked resulting from a thickened, inflated, trunk-like lower base similar to an elephant's foot. The leaves are strap-like, spineless and up to 4 feet (1.2 m) long. White flowers are produced in summer, followed by brown, fleshy fruits which are oval and up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long.
Photo via terrapalme.de
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 40 °F (+4.4 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Under the right conditions, Yucca 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 Yucca include a sunny corner with relatively low humidity. They are not prone to many pests, although scale can be an issue. 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.
Yucca 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… – See more at: How to Grow and Care for Yucca.
Origin
Native to Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the eastern part of Mexico.
Links
- Back to genus Yucca
- Succulentopedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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