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Yucca elephantipes (Spineless yucca)

Other names: Yucca guatemalensis, Giant yucca, Yucca gigantea

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Species
Y. elephantipes is a large, tender, upright shrub or small tree with several trunks, narrowly lance-shaped, toothed, leathery, light to mid-green leaves and dense, erect panicles of pendent, white to cream flowers from summer to autumn.
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Season of interest

Flower

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Flower

Foliage

Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Foliage
Height and spread

Height and spread

Size Max height Max spread To maturity
10 m 8 m 10-20 years
32 ft 26 ft 10-20 years

Where to grow

Soil type
  • Chalky
  • Loamy
  • Sandy
Soil drainage
  • Well-drained
Soil pH
  • Acid
  • Alkaline
  • Neutral
Sunlight
  • Partial Shade
  • Full Sun
Aspect
  • West
  • South
Exposure
  • Exposed
  • Sheltered

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Additional plant details

Cultivation

Outdoors, grow in any well-drained soil in full sun. Under glass, grow in loam-based compost in full light. In growth, water moderately and feed monthly. Water sparingly in winter.

Suggested uses

Architectural, Coastal, Beds and borders, Mediterranean, Sub-Tropical, City, Drought Tolerant

UK hardiness

H2

USDA zones

Zone 9, Zone 10, Zone 11

Sunset zone

12, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = Very Low
Central Valley = Unknown
South Coastal = Low
South Inland = Very Low
High and Intermediate Desert = Unknown
Low Desert = Unknown

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Spiky

Native to

Mexico

Drought tolerant

Yes

Flood tolerant

No

Toxicity

Though not toxic, sharp leaf edges may cause injury.

Plant care

Pruning

Remove spent flower stalks.

Propagation methods

Seed, Root cuttings, Suckers

Propagation

Flowers may need hand pollination to produce seed.

Pests

Snails

Aphids

Diseases

Leaf spot

Remove faded flowers stems in autumn (optional)

Remove dying leaves individually by pulling downwards in autumn

Rooted suckers can be potted up in spring for one year before planting out

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (0)

Yucca

Companion plants (0)

Related content

Discuss Yucca elephantipes with other Shoot members

Re: Re: Help with my Yucca please!

Shoot User
975 0
Dear Kathy,
Thanks so much for the info - I didn't want to just remove the main stems and find out I shouldn't have :-)
Regards Jan
Posted: Friday 11th of May 2012 09:09 AM

Re: Help with my Yucca please!

Kathy N
975 1
Hi, Jan,
Yucca elephantipes naturally wants to form a multi-stemmed shrub or tree - if the middle one shows no sign of life in the next few weeks, you could remove that and let others do their thing. Have you checked out its plant page here on Shoot?
Kathy C
Posted: Thursday 10th of May 2012 09:38 PM

Help with my Yucca please!

Shoot User
975 1
I have "inherited" an outdoor 6' Yucca which I thought was dead but have noticed a new shoot from the base of the plant.
The main stem is firm but with no signs of life and is about 6' high and there are 5 other smaller stems which seem to be dormant too.
My question is - should I saw these 6 stems off?
Posted: Tuesday 8th of May 2012 04:44 PM Last reply: Sunday 15th of October 2023 08:37 PM

Re: yucca elephantipes care

Kathy N
1178 0
Hi, Lee,
Since Yucca are drought tolerant, you want to make sure they don't get overwatered. Water moderately - wait for the soil surface to complete dry out before watering again. Feed once a month or so with a balanced liquid fertiliser - probably best to use a cactus fertiliser but it isn't really necessary. Do you take your Yucca outside in summer? Yucca grown indoors tend to respond well with being outside in summer.
Kathy C
Posted: Monday 28th of February 2011 06:45 PM

yucca elephantipes care

Shoot User
1178 1
my yucca is indoors. how often do i water it and which type of plant food should i use? and how often? thanks.
Posted: Saturday 26th of February 2011 07:38 PM Last reply: Thursday 20th of February 2025 05:18 PM
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