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Plant of the Month for April 2005

prepared by Jim Carson, Horticulture Chairman

Common Name – Red Yucca (Mexican)

Family – Agaveceae
Genus – Yucca
Species – Hesperaloe parviflora

Herbaceous perennial
Hardiness Zones 7 - 10
Full sun to light shade
Drought tolerant
Soil: sandy/sandy loam, well drained
Growth rate: medium (2 – 3 feet tall)
Origin: native to southwestern Texas and Coahuila, Mexico

I saw my first hummingbird Saturday. That has nothing to do with anything except that hummingbirds are attracted to the flower of the Red Yucca. Red yucca somewhat resembles true yucca with linear leaves arising from the base and flower stalks rising above the leaves. Red yucca, however, produces several pups (new plants formed adjacent to the parent plant) and has finer leaves than true yucca giving it a more grass-like appearance. The leaves are about 2 to 3 feet long and a mature plant can be about 5 feet across.

The "red" in red yucca refers to the flower color. This is somewhat misleading because there is also a yellow flowered variety available. Red yucca produces several flower stalks each year, having abundant tubular flowers that bloom in spring and extend well into summer. The flower stalks can grow up to 9 feet high, but most are 3 - 5 feet high. As I said before, hummingbirds and butterflies are very attracted to the flowers.

After flowering, do not remove the flower stalks. Leave them to produce fruit. After opening, seeds are a food source for birds or can be used to start new plants. New plants can also be started by dividing established clumps or removing individual pups.

Red yucca loves heat and can tolerate cold temperatures down to 0 degrees F.

Plant red yucca in full sun to light shade, where it has room to grow without needing to be trimmed back. Place the plants 3 to 4 feet away from sidewalks, walkways, or driveways. After planting from a nursery container, provide ample irrigation for the first year taking care not to over water. After the first year, they should do nicely on native rainfall or with infrequent irrigation during extended droughts.

Maintenance is easy. On established plants, the older leaves eventually will die and lay on the ground. These can be cut off individually to create a neater appearance. This and removing dead flower stalks are the only maintenance practices needed.

Red yuccas are drought adapted plants and should be planted in conjunction with plants having similar irrigation requirements. They are equally attractive when planted with cacti and succulents or with leafy plants such as Mexican primrose, brittlebush, Penstemon, or annual wildflowers.

As a side note, a close relative of red yucca (Hesperaloe funifera) is being tested as a crop plant by University of Arizona researchers. H. funifera is quite a bit larger than red yucca and in the leaves; it produces long, thin fibers that can be used to produce paper with exceptional strength.