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| Category: Succulent |
| Family: Agavaceae (now Asparagaceae) |
| Origin: Southwest (U.S.) (North America) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: White |
| Bloomtime: Spring |
| Height: 8-12 feet |
| Width: 4-5 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Deer Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 0-10° F |
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Yucca rigida (Blue Yucca) A stunning slow-growing tree-like yucca with upright stems of minimal branching to 12 feet tall that have attractive 3 foot long by 1 inch wide, stiff, slightly waxy, pale silver to whitish gray leaves that have narrow yellow margins and are tightly clustered to form dense rosettes on top of the stems. The old leaves fall off leaving a fibrous soft gray covering on the trunk. Large clusters of white flowers hang downward along the upright stout spikes that rise from within the crowns 2 feet or more in late spring. This yucca performs best in warm sunny areas with good drainage and occasional to infrequent summer irrigation. It is noted as preferring alkaline conditions and is hardy to around 0°F. This plant is from the northern Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, and Zacatecas. Our plants came from seed purchased as Yucca rostrata but the crop had many plants that were clearly not Yucca rostrata which has shorter, slightly twisted and softer leaves. The specific epithet describes well the inflexible characteristic of this plant's leaves – we once heard a person jokingly describing the difference between Yucca rostrata and Yucca rigida by saying that if you forcefully push the palm of one's hand against the leaf of each species that the Yucca rostrata leaf may prick you but the Yucca rigida leaf could well go through your hand. Other common names include Silver Leaf Yucca and Palmilla. The name Yucca was given to the genus by Linnaeus, perhaps by mistake, as it is the Latinized derivation of "yuca", the Caribbean name for Cassava (Manihot esculenta) an unrelated plant in the Euphorbia family that is native to the Caribbean area. Interestingly it was also Linnaeus who applied the name Manihot to Yuca.
The information on this page is based on our library and online research as well as observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in the nursery garden and in other gardens that we have visited. We have also incorporated comments received from others and always appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have some additional information, in particular if this information is contrary to what we have written or includes additional cultural tips that would aid others in growing Yucca rigida.
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