When it arrives
Your plug tray
Pot 72-cell plugs into 4-inch pots of gritty mix and grow in full sun until rooted, or plant directly into well-drained soil. Don't keep them wet.
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Lavender companion · grow guide
Yucca · Yucca
Hardy yucca (Adam's needle) is an evergreen, sword-leaved perennial for full sun and sharply drained soil. It handles drought, heat and cold, but not wet roots.
Check my zone & planting dates
Full sunLight
Low waterFast drainage
pH 6.0–8.0Soil
Zones 5a–10bHardiness
24″ tall36″ wide
Some resistanceDeer · rabbits resistant
Toxic to petsPets
Leaf tips are sharp and stiff. Keep it away from paths, play areas and pets.
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Dragon Slayer will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 5a–10b
Spring through early summer so roots establish before winter.
Your year with Dragon Slayer
When it arrives
Pot 72-cell plugs into 4-inch pots of gritty mix and grow in full sun until rooted, or plant directly into well-drained soil. Don't keep them wet.
Spring through early summer so roots establish before winter.
Plant with the base of the rosette at soil level; don't bury the leaves.
2–3 feet apart; plants spread by offsets.
Sandy, gravelly or rocky; poor soil is fine · pH 6.0–8.0
Fix-it tip: Add grit or plant on a mound in clay. Avoid irrigated, rich beds.
Full sun (tolerates part sun).
Variegated types keep stronger color in sun; shade makes plants floppy and bloom less.
Don’t give up on it
Evergreen; the rosette stays visible all winter. Lower leaves may brown after winter; new growth comes from the center in spring. Flower stalks appear in early summer on mature plants.
Remove dead leaves; offsets can be divided.
Tall flower stalks on mature plants.
Cut spent stalks.
Evergreen rosettes add structure.
First season: Water every week or two the first season, letting soil dry between.
After that: Very drought tolerant; rarely needs water.
None needed.
Cut the flower stalk to the base after bloom. Remove dead lower leaves in spring; wear gloves.
Remove offsets (pups) in spring if desired. The main rosette may die after flowering, but offsets carry on.
Very cold hardy (Y. filamentosa is native to the eastern US). Cold is rarely a problem if the soil stays dry.
Thrives in heat and drought.
Yellow, soft leaves at the baseLikely cause: Root rot from wet soil
What to do: Improve drainage; stop watering
Pale, stippled leavesLikely cause: Yucca plant bug
What to do: Hose off; remove damaged leaves
Main rosette dies after bloomingLikely cause: Normal for that crown
What to do: Let offsets fill in
Yellowing, collapsing leaves and a soft base mean root rot from wet soil.
ASPCA: toxic to dogs, cats and horses (saponins); vomiting in dogs and cats; liver disease and dermatitis in horses. Leaf tips are also sharp.
Deer: somewhat resistant · Rabbits: resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
Good in pots · 5 gallon+
Use a gritty mix in a heavy pot. Hardy outdoors in pots in most areas if kept dry.
Outdoor plant
Hardy outdoor plant; needs full sun.
No chill needed
Blooms once rosettes are mature (often 2-3 years); age matters more than winter chill.
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 5 gallon potTime to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Plant it right alongside lavender
Great match: both want full sun and fast-draining, lean soil. Yucca's bold spikes give structure against lavender's soft mounds year-round.
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