Yucca plants are pretty cool. Although they may be present in any soil, these fungi can only thrive in moist conditions. Larger sized shrubs may... Caring for Your Soft Leaf Yucca. The plants aren't picky about soil pH or type as long as the soil is dry. The yucca plant is a relatively low-maintenance plant and, luckily, that usually extends to pest problems. Tip: Spider mites are a common problem with indoor yuccas as well. Sedum, Ceratostigma, Coreopsis and many types of grass provide an excellent contrast with the spiky leaves and bristles of the Yucca plant. If it's not possible to move the plant, apply a fungicide and keep the soil as dry as possible. Most greenhouses will have them available, though, so you’re sure to find one somewhere nearby if shipping isn’t your thing. Family Agavaceae (Agave Family), University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources: Yucca Weevil. Taking action as soon as possible is the best way to ensure the survival of your yucca. The scientific name is Yucca elephantipes, and they have sharp, spear-shaped projections, which radiate from the central stalk. Yucca aloifolia is a thicket-forming plant with very sharp, stiff, rough-surfaced leaf blades, with the old leaves browning, pointing down and drying plastered against the stems in a long petticoat of dead leaves. Yuccas are a perennial succulent plant in the agave family. The spores may be black, red or brown. If grown under the wrong soil and moisture conditions, these desert natives will eventually rot, either in the stem or in the roots. Yucca recurvifolia. This yucca cane plant already starts out at a good size in this 9-inch grower pot. Not only will it help your yucca stay healthy, but it will also help it grow. Yucca plants kept in the wrong conditions are also more susceptible to the yucca weevil and yucca mealybugs which can burrow into the stems through the leaves of the plant and devour the plant from the inside. Yucca Cane Plant is a tropical plant, native to Mexico and Guatemala, prized for its toughness and striking appearance. Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Reflecting their desert origins, yucca plants grow best in a spot with full sun and dry soil. Although these sturdy plants require very little care, yucca division may be necessary if the plant overgrows its boundaries or if you want to share with friends and family. Native to the hot, dry areas of North and Central America and the Carribbean, there are over 49 species and 29 subspecies of yucca that have been described so far. An excellent accent is useful around pools. The huge head of white blooms on the Soft Leaf Yucca can be 3-5 ft. tall. Pendulous, cream-colored bloom stalks appear in summer. Trunk (sometimes branched) is topped with an asymmetrical rosette of narrow, foot-long blue-green leaves; old brown leaves hang from its sides. Yucca is a North American native, a flowering plant that acts like a large shrub or small tree. Her articles have appeared in magazines such as "Herb Companion" and "Northwest Travel" and she is the author of six books. Fungal diseases often show up as spores that can be seen on the leaves. You … You can buy your Soft Leaf Yucca plants from the TyTy Nursery today! In fact, overwatering them is probably the most common way to kill them. A spray of dish soap and water will control bugs and mites. Here’s exactly how to go about taking care of one. Each looks a bit different, but they all have some sort of distinct large, long, sword-shaped green leaves. This multi-stemmed plant can … Large clusters of white flowers appear on the tree in late spring and summer. Introduce a dramatic, tropical effect into a landscaping by adding a soft leaf yucca (Yucca recurvifolia). Our editors independently select these products. © 2021 Well+Good LLC. “Yucca” itself is a genus in the Asparagaceae family, subfamily Agavoideae. Read our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. Can an Aloe Vera Be Potted in a Container With No Drainage Holes? They are characterized by their stiff, sword-shaped leaves with a tall stem of white flowers emerging from the center. Yucca aloifolia (Spanish Bayonet, Dagger Plant) This is a U.S. native but also grows in Mexico and the West Indies. That way, it’s not sitting in water (and being at risk of root rot). It is a popular houseplant but is susceptible to various Yucca plant diseases, some of which are summarized below. If you kill a yucca, it's probably due to overwatering. Plant name: Soft leaf yucca (Yucca recurvifolia). 7 Beginner Medicine Ball Exercises to Fire up Your Core, TBH, I Always Thought Fiber Was Just for Digestion—but It’s the Beauty Benefits That Hooked Me, We Asked a Dermatologist to Answer the Most-Googled Skin-Care Questions of 2020. University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources: Damping Off Diseases, University of Florida IFAS Extension: Yucca Production Guide, Arizona Cooperative Extension: Problems and Pests of Agave, Aloe, Cactus and Yucca. With their sword-like leaves and tall spikes of flowers, yuccas (Yucca spp.) If the soil around your yucca plant stays moist, these fungi will spread to the plant and rot away the stems and roots. Here are some beautiful plants with interesting and distinctive leaves. When planted in soil that remains moist, watered too frequently or kept where there is poor air flow, yucca plants can develop fungal disease. Despite being so stunning, yuccas are surprisingly low-maintenance. Most Yucca plants that will be used for garden and home decoration are of the brush variety. Yucca Care Instructions.LightThe Yucca plant is one garden and houseplant which will be quite happy with as much sun as you can give it. Get it daily. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. This variety has attractive, blue-gray, strap-like leaves 2 to 3 feet long. Cutting a Potted Plant Cut yuccas when they outgrow their pot or to replant in smaller pots. If you pay attention to your yucca plant, you will notice telltale signs of trouble. One problem in caring for yucca plants that indoor owners have that outdoor owners generally do not is that indoor plants can grow too tall. The yucca plant is a popular indoor and outdoor plant. This plant is grown for its leaves and structural height rather than the flowers. There is a small chance that your yucca can die from a pest infestation but that chance is low. Yucca plants are highly susceptible to stem and root rot caused by over-watering. Attempts at pampering this sturdy plant may result in a yucca plant leaves turning yellow. It tolerates more moisture than most xeric plants; however, it’s not the best yucca for full-scorch locations. Because yuccas rarely experience heavy insect infestations, keeping your yucca in these optimal conditions will help eliminate the plant's worst problem: fungal disease. You can identify the plant by its long, narrow spiky leaves and globular growth habit. As far as houseplants go, yucca probably eclipsed by the similar-looking Dracaena genus, which is often mistaken for yucca. The Soft Leaf Yucca is a stately specimen. If you notice the tiny red mites on your plant, take your potted yucca outdoors or into the shower and spray well, including the underside of the leaves. make a dramatic addition to the garden. Yucca plants aren’t super easy to find online, but there are a few plants you can score them below. Yucca elephantipes—also called spineless yucca, stick yucca and yucca gigantea—is a type of shrubby plant with thick cane stems and sword-shaped leaves.Yucca plants grow outdoors in hot arid climates. The best solution for stem rot in a yucca plant is to prevent the problem in the first place. Extra bonus: It comes in a pretty pot. Unlike something like the fiddle leaf fig that will get mad and drop all its leaves if you move it, yuccas are drought-tolerant, fairly pest-resistant, and hardly require any attention at all. These are often edged by white, curly hairs. Water your yucca only when the soil is dry to a depth of 3 inches. Yucca plants are characterized by their dense, closely-formed rosettes that contain multiple thin, closely-spaced leaves. The next best solution is to act quickly when you notice a problem. Yucca Plant With Rotting Stems. Blooms in late spring, when white to cream flowers with green-tinged petal bases appear on a 4- to 5 feet spike. When the soapweed yucca plant blooms, it produces pale green-white flowers on the end of a flowering stem that is 3 ft. (1 m) tall. Yellow leaves and/or soft roots can be a sign of overwatering. Once the mealybugs are dead, introduce beneficial insects to your yard to limit mealybug populations. If the plant is crowded, remove surrounding plants to improve air circulation. The low-growing desert shrub grows about 2 ft. (0.6 m) tall and wide. For best results, plant yuccas in sandy soil and don’t use organic mulch. They’re known for their pointy, sword-shaped leaves, and even though they look like typical houseplants, they’re actually giant succulents. SKU. Based in Portland, Ore., Tammie Painter has been writing garden, fitness, science and travel articles since 2008. If you water the plant regularly or plant it in soil that doesn’t drain freely, the roots begin to rot. For fungal diseases, stop watering the plant. All rights reserved. Attractive, recurving strap-like leaves form bold rosettes; an evergreen perennial. Choose your favorite Fuzzy Foliage Houseplants from the list!. Yucca weevils can only be controlled by keeping the plant in its optimal conditions of dry soil, full sun and good air flow. If you are planting on your own, start with small-sized Soft Leaf Yucca. They are perennial shrubs and come in upwards of 50 different species. But even though they’re native to hot and dry areas in North and South America, the desert plant can be really happy in your home, too. However if conditions are good, after a number of years, similar sweet smelling white bell flowers you see on outdoor Yucca's may appear. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission. Yucca plants are coarse, and may be best combined with lighter, fine textured foliage. Painter earned her Bachelor of Science in biology from Portland State University. They need to be trimmed back. Other signs of fungal disease are stunted growth, wilting leaves or a change in color of the leaves or stems. Well+Good decodes and demystifies what it means to live a well life, inside and out. Not dangerously sharp. Control mealybugs by treating the plant with insecticidal soap. Yucca plants are pretty cool. The leaves sprout from rosettes, with many different rosettes sprouting from the trunk. These Fuzzy Foliage Houseplants have delicate hairs on the surface that is soft to touch.The leaves have a velvety feel, which also makes the plant stand out. They’ll also be fine in areas that are a little more shaded, but they won’t grow as quickly. They're known for their pointy, sword-shaped leaves, and even though they look like typical houseplants, they're actually giant succulents. Overall, the leaves of soft leaf yucca are much softer than other yuccas; but they still produce a sharp point at the terminal of each leaf. There are more than 50 types of yucca and all are formidable plants with stiff, sword-shaped leaves. Water – A common cause of yellow yucca leaves is too much water. These fungi include Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Phytophthora species. The Yucca is moderately poisonous to cats, dogs and people. Yucca mealybugs produce a white, thread-like wax on the stems of yucca plants. They’ll require less water over winter. If the soil is still moist two or three days after watering, move the plant to a drier spot in the garden. Instead, aim for bright indirect light, which will keep your plant happy and allow it to grow quickly. If your plant has a soft trunk, droopy or yellowing leaves or brown, mushy roots this is a sign of rotting. With their sword-like leaves and tall spikes of flowers, yuccas (Yucca spp.) Yuccas are drought-tolerant, so they don’t need much water at all to survive and thrive. This unique soft-tip yucca plant—aka yucca elephantipes—arrives between 8- to 12-inches tall. Read on to learn how to split a yucca. When you’re watering your plant, make sure the water drains out of the bottom before putting it back in its pot. The Soft Leaf Yucca forms very attractive, strap-like leaves and is evergreen. When you do water, water the soil deeply and avoid wetting the plant. While yuccas are super low maintenance, they’re healthiest when you give them a boost a couple times a year with a general-purpose houseplant fertilizer—mainly once in the spring, and once in the summer, says Costa Farms. Although most yucca plants grow well in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 11, the plants cannot simply be placed in any garden and be expected to thrive. Despite being a desert plant, indoor yucca plants don’t want the sun blaring down on them all day, which can actually burn their leaves. Yuccas should also be planted where there is good air flow to prevent the buildup of moisture in the soil or in the areas where the leaves meet the stem. As a rule of thumb, Greenery Unlimited says to only water your plant when the top half of the soil is completely dry, which—depending on how much light it’s getting—is generally every 1 to 2 weeks. Propagation: New starts can be grown from offsets, root cuttings or seed. The New Sunset Western Garden Book; Kathleen Norris Brenzel, Editor. Yuccas are extremely drought tolerant, but will look better with regular watering of about an inch per week during spring and summer, along with an occasional deep soaking. University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources: Collar, Foot, Root and Crown Rots -- Phytophthora Spp. Over time, most species of yucca will grow into room-devouring monsters, but this takes long enough that they provide years of durabl… Leaf tips occasionally have spines, which can be incredibly sharp yet still duller than those found on agave plants. About This Plant An evergreen mound lily, with soft bluish weeping foliage that can be used around walkways in gardens. Yucca Cane’s leaves are long, thin, and stiff, almost like the blade of a sword, and surround the plant’s trunk, or cane, in a spiky whorl. make a dramatic addition to the garden. You get two yucca canes—one taller and one shorter—when you order this plant. This plant doesn’t get pests very often and, when it does, it is usually an easy fix. After you put it in a sunny spot, it will start shooting up in height. Yucca -- Yucca Spp. Yucca Elephantipes/Spineless Jewel/Cane Yucca/Soft-tip Yucca Small tree with multiple trunks, sword-shaped blue-green leaves, and white flowers USDA Hardiness Zone: 9-11 Its 40–50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flowers.They are native to the hot and dry parts of the Americas and the Caribbean.Early reports of the species were confused with the cassava (Manihot esculenta). 7735. The small sharp-leafed yucca plant thrives in arid conditions. A wondrous 3 ft tall flower spike burst forth with masses of pendent bell shaped white flowers typically blooming late summer. Make sure your plant has gritty soil that drains easily. Huge head of white blooms on 3- to 5-foot stalks. Be the first to review this product. But … They are, however, interesting and slow-growing houseplants that have the added benefit of being extremely drought tolerant. Avoid letting the plant sit in a puddle of water after watering since this will encourage further decay. Yucca Gloriosa Plant, Broad spiked leaves form a uniformly spaced pin cushion shaped ground growing mound. CA Do Not Sell My Personal Information     Sitemap redirect. This yucca forms many rosettes within a single plant that creates a very dense clumping habit. University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources: Mealybugs, University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources: Agave -- Agave Spp. Is the Yucca plant Poisonous? 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A change in color of the yucca is a genus in the Agave family ) University... And Crown Rots -- Phytophthora spp. due to overwatering is evergreen it to grow quickly arid conditions yuccas they. But they won ’ t super easy to find online, but they ’. Succulent Planting & Landscaping or small tree, native to Mexico and,. A sunny spot, it is usually an easy fix 2 to 3 feet long a spot with full and. The next best solution for stem rot in a spot with full sun and dry soil this. Re watering your plant has gritty soil that doesn ’ t grow as quickly may be combined., it ’ s not sitting in water ( and being at risk of rot! Easy to find online, but they won ’ t super easy to find online, but will! Plant leaves turning yellow, these fungi can only thrive in moist conditions evergreen perennial about 2 (., narrow spiky leaves and tall spikes of flowers, yuccas ( yucca recurvifolia ) favorite Fuzzy houseplants.