Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. 7 Beginner Medicine Ball Exercises to Fire up Your Core, TBH, I Always Thought Fiber Was Just for Digestionâbut Itâs the Beauty Benefits That Hooked Me, We Asked a Dermatologist to Answer the Most-Googled Skin-Care Questions of 2020. The spores may be black, red or brown. Her articles have appeared in magazines such as "Herb Companion" and "Northwest Travel" and she is the author of six books. Attempts at pampering this sturdy plant may result in a yucca plant leaves turning yellow. Yucca plants are highly susceptible to stem and root rot caused by over-watering. Yucca mealybugs produce a white, thread-like wax on the stems of yucca plants. CA Do Not Sell My Personal Information Sitemap redirect. 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. Plant name: Soft leaf yucca (Yucca recurvifolia). Most Yucca plants that will be used for garden and home decoration are of the brush variety. They are, however, interesting and slow-growing houseplants that have the added benefit of being extremely drought tolerant. Not only will it help your yucca stay healthy, but it will also help it grow. These are often edged by white, curly hairs. Yucca plants aren’t super easy to find online, but there are a few plants you can score them below. They’re known for their pointy, sword-shaped leaves, and even though they look like typical houseplants, they’re actually giant succulents. If the soil around your yucca plant stays moist, these fungi will spread to the plant and rot away the stems and roots. Water your yucca only when the soil is dry to a depth of 3 inches. Yucca Cane Plant is a tropical plant, native to Mexico and Guatemala, prized for its toughness and striking appearance. The Soft Leaf Yucca is a stately specimen. Blooms in late spring, when white to cream flowers with green-tinged petal bases appear on a 4- to 5 feet spike. You get two yucca canes—one taller and one shorter—when you order this plant. If grown under the wrong soil and moisture conditions, these desert natives will eventually rot, either in the stem or in the roots. Large clusters of white flowers appear on the tree in late spring and summer. Here’s exactly how to go about taking care of one. This yucca forms many rosettes within a single plant that creates a very dense clumping habit. 7735. Reflecting their desert origins, yucca plants grow best in a spot with full sun and dry soil. Choose your favorite Fuzzy Foliage Houseplants from the list!. The plants aren't picky about soil pH or type as long as the soil is dry. As far as houseplants go, yucca probably eclipsed by the similar-looking Dracaena genus, which is often mistaken for yucca. The scientific name is Yucca elephantipes, and they have sharp, spear-shaped projections, which radiate from the central stalk. After you put it in a sunny spot, it will start shooting up in height. The yucca plant is a popular indoor and outdoor plant. There is a small chance that your yucca can die from a pest infestation but that chance is low. All rights reserved. Read our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. 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. You … 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. make a dramatic addition to the garden. 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. University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources: Collar, Foot, Root and Crown Rots -- Phytophthora Spp. Making a purchase through our links may earn Well+Good a commission. Is the Yucca plant Poisonous? Read on to learn how to split a yucca. Yucca plants are coarse, and may be best combined with lighter, fine textured foliage. This plant doesn’t get pests very often and, when it does, it is usually an easy fix. 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. If the plant is crowded, remove surrounding plants to improve air circulation. Yucca plants are pretty cool. The New Sunset Western Garden Book; Kathleen Norris Brenzel, Editor. Leaf tips occasionally have spines, which can be incredibly sharp yet still duller than those found on agave plants. Soft Leaf Yucca do well in dry soil and are very drought resistant. Despite being so stunning, yuccas are surprisingly low-maintenance. That way, it’s not sitting in water (and being at risk of root rot). Larger sized shrubs may... Caring for Your Soft Leaf Yucca. Our editors independently select these products. Water – A common cause of yellow yucca leaves is too much water. Yucca aloifolia (Spanish Bayonet, Dagger Plant) This is a U.S. native but also grows in Mexico and the West Indies. Yucca is a North American native, a flowering plant that acts like a large shrub or small tree. Family Agavaceae (Agave Family), University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources: Yucca Weevil. 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. When yucca weevils enter the plant, they leave holes in the leaves. The next best solution is to act quickly when you notice a problem. 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. The Soft Leaf Yucca forms very attractive, strap-like leaves and is evergreen. You can identify the plant by its long, narrow spiky leaves and globular growth habit. Yucca recurvifolia. Instead, aim for bright indirect light, which will keep your plant happy and allow it to grow quickly. Huge head of white blooms on 3- to 5-foot stalks. It is a popular houseplant but is susceptible to various Yucca plant diseases, some of which are summarized below. Get it daily. Tip: Spider mites are a common problem with indoor yuccas as well. With their sword-like leaves and tall spikes of flowers, yuccas (Yucca spp.) Evergreen. Not dangerously sharp. There are more than 50 types of yucca and all are formidable plants with stiff, sword-shaped leaves. If you water the plant regularly or plant it in soil that doesn’t drain freely, the roots begin to rot. This plant is grown for its leaves and structural height rather than the flowers. About This Plant An evergreen mound lily, with soft bluish weeping foliage that can be used around walkways in gardens. If your plant has a soft trunk, droopy or yellowing leaves or brown, mushy roots this is a sign of rotting. Yucca plants are shrubs that have a hard, sword shaped leaves with white flowers. Fungal diseases often show up as spores that can be seen on the leaves. 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. 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. Be the first to review this product. If you kill a yucca, it's probably due to overwatering. Once the mealybugs are dead, introduce beneficial insects to your yard to limit mealybug populations. A spray of dish soap and water will control bugs and mites. “Yucca” itself is a genus in the Asparagaceae family, subfamily Agavoideae. For fungal diseases, stop watering the plant. This yucca cane plant already starts out at a good size in this 9-inch grower pot. They are perennial shrubs and come in upwards of 50 different species. Over time, most species of yucca will grow into room-devouring monsters, but this takes long enough that they provide years of durabl… However if conditions are good, after a number of years, similar sweet smelling white bell flowers you see on outdoor Yucca's may appear. Avoid letting the plant sit in a puddle of water after watering since this will encourage further decay. Make sure your plant has gritty soil that drains easily. When you’re watering your plant, make sure the water drains out of the bottom before putting it back in its pot. Taking action as soon as possible is the best way to ensure the survival of your yucca. They’ll require less water over winter. 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. Yucca weevils can only be controlled by keeping the plant in its optimal conditions of dry soil, full sun and good air flow. Yucca -- Yucca Spp. 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. You can buy your Soft Leaf Yucca plants from the TyTy Nursery today! 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 Yucca Gloriosa Plant, Broad spiked leaves form a uniformly spaced pin cushion shaped ground growing mound. Introduce a dramatic, tropical effect into a landscaping by adding a soft leaf yucca (Yucca recurvifolia). Based in Portland, Ore., Tammie Painter has been writing garden, fitness, science and travel articles since 2008. The Yucca is moderately poisonous to cats, dogs and people. Painter earned her Bachelor of Science in biology from Portland State University. Most greenhouses will have them available, though, so you’re sure to find one somewhere nearby if shipping isn’t your thing. Cutting a Potted Plant Cut yuccas when they outgrow their pot or to replant in smaller pots. An excellent accent is useful around pools. With their sword-like leaves and tall spikes of flowers, yuccas (Yucca spp.) If you are planting on your own, start with small-sized Soft Leaf Yucca. For best results, plant yuccas in sandy soil and don’t use organic mulch. Yucca plants are characterized by their dense, closely-formed rosettes that contain multiple thin, closely-spaced leaves. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. It tolerates more moisture than most xeric plants; however, it’s not the best yucca for full-scorch locations. This unique soft-tip yucca plant—aka yucca elephantipes—arrives between 8- to 12-inches tall. © 2021 Well+Good LLC. Yucca plants are pretty cool. make a dramatic addition to the garden. 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. Sedum, Ceratostigma, Coreopsis and many types of grass provide an excellent contrast with the spiky leaves and bristles of the Yucca plant. The low-growing desert shrub grows about 2 ft. (0.6 m) tall and wide. Extra bonus: It comes in a pretty pot. When planted in soil that remains moist, watered too frequently or kept where there is poor air flow, yucca plants can develop fungal disease. A wondrous 3 ft tall flower spike burst forth with masses of pendent bell shaped white flowers typically blooming late summer. These fungi include Fusarium, Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Phytophthora species. Because yuccas rarely experience heavy insect infestations, keeping your yucca in these optimal conditions will help eliminate the plant's worst problem: fungal disease. The best solution for stem rot in a yucca plant is to prevent the problem in the first place. 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. The huge head of white blooms on the Soft Leaf Yucca can be 3-5 ft. tall. Propagation: New starts can be grown from offsets, root cuttings or seed. 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. 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. They're known for their pointy, sword-shaped leaves, and even though they look like typical houseplants, they're actually giant succulents. In fact, overwatering them is probably the most common way to kill them. SKU. Well+Good decodes and demystifies what it means to live a well life, inside and out. 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. When you do water, water the soil deeply and avoid wetting the plant. Yuccas are drought-tolerant, so they don’t need much water at all to survive and thrive. Attractive, recurving strap-like leaves form bold rosettes; an evergreen perennial. Can an Aloe Vera Be Potted in a Container With No Drainage Holes? If the soil is still moist two or three days after watering, move the plant to a drier spot in the garden. Pendulous, cream-colored bloom stalks appear in summer. Other signs of fungal disease are stunted growth, wilting leaves or a change in color of the leaves or stems. They’ll also be fine in areas that are a little more shaded, but they won’t grow as quickly. The leaves sprout from rosettes, with many different rosettes sprouting from the trunk. They are characterized by their stiff, sword-shaped leaves with a tall stem of white flowers emerging from the center. Here are some beautiful plants with interesting and distinctive leaves. University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources: Mealybugs, University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources: Agave -- Agave Spp. 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. Yucca Plant With Rotting Stems. 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. This variety has attractive, blue-gray, strap-like leaves 2 to 3 feet long. Although they may be present in any soil, these fungi can only thrive in moist conditions. Yellow leaves and/or soft roots can be a sign of overwatering. 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. 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. 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). 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. Reaching mature size around 4 feet by 4 feet with 3 12 inch wide leaves. Each looks a bit different, but they all have some sort of distinct large, long, sword-shaped green leaves. Yuccas are a perennial succulent plant in the agave family. Control mealybugs by treating the plant with insecticidal soap. Trunk (sometimes branched) is topped with an asymmetrical rosette of narrow, foot-long blue-green leaves; old brown leaves hang from its sides. But … They need to be trimmed back. If you pay attention to your yucca plant, you will notice telltale signs of trouble. This multi-stemmed plant can … If it's not possible to move the plant, apply a fungicide and keep the soil as dry as possible. The small sharp-leafed yucca plant thrives in arid conditions. Soft Leaf Yucca: 21 Important Facts On The Attractive Succulent Planting & Landscaping. The yucca plant is a relatively low-maintenance plant and, luckily, that usually extends to pest problems. Is low an excellent contrast with the spiky leaves and tall spikes of flowers, yuccas yucca! Be fine in areas that are a common cause of yellow yucca leaves is too much water to grow.. 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