Yucca is a genus of evergreen shrubs and trees in the Agavoideae subfamily of the Asparagaceae family. Its 40–50 species are there, and the majority of yucca species lack stems, have clusters of waxy white blooms, and a rosette of stiff sword-shaped leaves at the base that are evergreen. A few of them, including the Yucca gigantea (also known as Y. guatemalensis and Y. elephantipes) and the Yucca aloifolia, are grown indoors.
Yuccas are fascinating to look at because they resemble agave or dragon plants. They are indigenous to the American Southwest, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Some plants grow quickly, up to two feet per year, while others grow slowly, at a rate of roughly five inches per year. All are incredibly drought-tolerant. In addition to being able to withstand cold snaps as low as 10 degrees Fahrenheit, the majority can also be grown outdoors. Some varieties can even withstand freezing temperatures. Early in the spring, plant them outside.
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See also: How to grow and care for Chlorophytum Borivilianum?
Yucca: Facts table
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Scientific Name |
Yucca
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Family |
Asparagaceae |
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Common Name |
Adam’s needle, Spanish bayonet, yucca and needle palm |
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Native |
Native to the hot and dry (arid) parts of the Americas and the Caribbean |
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Plant Type |
Perennial |
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Light |
Direct, bright light |
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Flower Colour |
Pink, White |
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Foliage Colour |
Blue/Green |
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Blooming Time |
June up to September |
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Propagation |
Division, Seed |
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Maintenance |
Low |
Yucca: Physical description
Yucca is a tiny shrub or tree with live green leaves on top and usually dead brown foliage on the bottom.
Flower
Beautiful, white blooms with rounded to bell-shaped petals
1-2 inches long and form upright, conspicuous clusters
Fruit
Black to green
3 to 4 inches long and slightly leathery
Yucca: How to grow
Growing outdoor
Yucca plants are native to the Southwest U.S. They favour arid, sandy areas like the Great Plains and desert. They may thrive in hot, dry conditions and salt spray and can survive poor, sandy, well-drained soils in full sun. Compared to yucca plants produced indoors, outdoor-grown plants have a better likelihood of consistently blooming. Yuccas should not be planted near walkways or paths because the pointed points of their leaves have the potential to cut bystanders. Although the sun is best for this plant, make sure it receives some evening shade.
Growing indoor
Yucca plants are not difficult to grow when given the proper conditions. They typically prefer a little bit of apathy over excessive attention. They are prone to overwatering. Too much water will result in soggy stems. When grown properly, they can survive up to 20 to 50 years outdoors and five years as indoor houseplants. A yucca plant thrives best in a light area with moderate humidity levels. Yucca plants are also not frequently attacked by pests, though scale insects can be a problem.
When to plant
You can start seedlings inside at any time or outside in the spring. Spring temperatures should range from 55 to 65°F for hardy varieties to be planted outside. Tenderer varieties should be avoided until temps are between 66 and 75°F.
How to plant
To assist in germination, soak seeds for 24 hours before planting, or scar the surface by rubbing them with sandpaper. Place seeds one to two seed lengths deep. In roughly 3 to 4 weeks, you should start to notice germination if you keep the seeds moderately wet. At around 8 weeks, transplant the seedlings into larger containers or a permanent setting. Yucca growth is generally slow and unpredictable, particularly when grown from seed. Before they bloom, it could take a few years.
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Yucca: How to care
Light
Indoor yucca plants thrive in direct, bright light. Insufficient lighting can lead yucca to grow thinner and more slowly, while direct, intense sunshine might result in white patches on leaves or crispy, brown tips.
Soil
Sandy terrain is the native habitat of yucca plants. Your yucca should be planted indoors in a loose, well-drained potting mix. Yuccas require little care and don’t require rich, fancy soil or specially designed soil. Instead, purchase a cheap potting mix and add coarse sand and perlite to it to encourage drainage.
Water
Overwatering can be quite damaging to yucca plants. During the spring and summer growing seasons, water your plant once a week. However, make sure it has excellent drainage and has a chance to dry out in between. When winter arrives, reduce your watering frequency to once every few weeks (or even less). A yucca plant should never be left in a tray of water.
Temperature
Yucca plants are suited to the desert, where daytime temperatures of over 90 degrees Fahrenheit and nighttime lows of 30 degrees Fahrenheit are common. Yuccas can thus adapt to the majority of indoor temperature variations and circumstances.
Humidity
Although they thrive in arid environments and prefer moderate humidity for growth, this plant doesn’t require misting at all because it is a desert plant.
Fertiliser
During the growing season, fertilise your indoor yucca plant as directed on the label using liquid fertiliser or controlled-release fertiliser. It normally only has to be fed once every month.
Yucca: Uses
- Yuccas are frequently planted in gardens as decorative plants. A large number of plants also develop edible portions, such as fruits, seeds, flowers, blooming stems, and, less frequently, roots.
- Native American rituals use the high saponin, shampoo-like roots of the soaptree yucca (Yucca elata).
- The dried yucca plant is preferred for use in friction fire starting because the fibres of the stem and leaves have a low ignition temperature. When igniting a fire, people frequently use the flower-bearing stem in conjunction with a strong piece of cedar (after it has dried).
- Yucca is mostly used in medicine to alleviate arthritis, joint discomfort, and inflammation.
- Native Americans treated skin blemishes, sprains, irritation, and bleeding with leaf sap applied topically or dissolved in water.
- In northern New Mexico, healers continue to make yucca teas blended with various plants to cure asthma and headaches.
- Today, yucca constituents are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis in patients. It is thought that taking yucca for a long time is the key to its effectiveness in treating arthritis.
- Other illnesses that are treated with yucca extract include gout, bursitis, colitis, ulcers, wounds, migraine headaches, high LDL cholesterol, and hypertension (high blood pressure) (also called bad cholesterol).
- Disorders of the kidney, liver, and gallbladder are also treated with yucca extract.
- Resveratrol, a substance included in red wine and yucca extract, has recently been discovered to prevent the clumping or aggregation of blood platelets. This study raises the possibility that yucca extract can help prevent blood clots.
- Yucca extract has been used commercially for a variety of purposes, including as a foaming ingredient in root beer, alcoholic beer, and cocktail mixers.
- Additionally, ice cream and other meals use the bittersweet dark brown extract as an ingredient.
- Natural pet foods also contain Yucca schidigera (Mojave or Mo-have yucca) extract as an addition. It is said to promote digestion, lessen faecal and urine odour, and speed up bowel elimination in dogs and cats. As a spray or drop, it can also be put in pet food.
Yucca: Toxicity
All parts of the Yucca plant are harmful to dogs and cats (as well as horses); therefore, pet owners should use caution while bringing them inside.
FAQs
Where should my yucca plant be placed?
Yucca plants are great for a west-facing window that may be too bright for most other house plants because they thrive in full-light environments.
How quickly do yucca plants grow?
Some yucca plants, especially those planted indoors, have rather slow growth rates. An indoor yucca plant, for instance, can be grown for at least five years without needing to be replanted or pruned.
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