The ‘Spineless Yucca’
Yucca elephantipes (syn.Y.gigantea) is one of the most widely grown of all of the Yuccas . Traditionally used as an outdoor plant, and often grown in containers, it is also widely grown as an indoor plant, and as it is suited to filtered light and also grows well in containers it is very useful for indoor landscaping projects.
Also known as the ‘spineless yucca’ it does not carry the same sharp foliage as some other species, another good feature for an indoor plant.
It is usual to see thee plants of different height grown in the one container, this gives height, as well as providing foliage lower down.
Popular varieties or cultivars include the variegated form Yucca elephantipes ‘Silver Star’ a variegated form with a silver strip or marking running along each leaf. Growing well in pots or containers Yucca elephantipes will grow to a small tree size is left to grow in the ground.
How To Grow Yucca Elephantipes – Basic Care
Yucca elephantipes can work well as an indoor plant in a well lit position, outdoors they prefer a warm position and a well drained soil. Yucca elephantipes makes a great feature or landscaping plant and is suitable for growing in a large pot or container.
Growing well both outdoors and indoors however when grown inside it does require good light. We suggest good filtered light from a window facing the sun. Less light will slow the growth rate and this is an advantage as the stems do not grow as quickly.
Easy care as it requires little water and thrives in the low humidity of areas such as offices and shopping centers.
Watering should be regular indoors, always allowing the soil to dry a little between watering. Ensure that the pot is draining well as Yuccas do not like to have their root systems continually wet.
Indoors a little added humidity may be needed if heating ducts and air conditioning are close to the plant.
A liquid fertiliser every two months will be adequate in most positions.
Repotting and propagation.
When grown in containers it is advisable to repot Yucca elephantipes every 3 years.
When repotting you can remove any offsets to propagate new plants and tidy up the look of the container.
Pruning Yucca elepantipes.
As yucca elephantipes grow to 2m and more in height and many people wish to prune them back to a lower height for a better display. Pruning is best carried out in early spring so that new growth will form quickly.
Plants can be cut back to a bare stem, pruning all foliage, you can go back as far as the green parts of the stem, the older woody parts of the stem may not always reshoot. The growing stem will reshoot after pruning, usually with a lot of new shoots. It is best to remove some of these so that the plant forms an attractive shape after pruning.
Yucca elephantipies is available for sale from the following growers
685 Mickleham Rd, GreenVale,Vic 3059
Grass trees, palms, ferns, bromeliads, cycads, cordylines, yucca, bannanas, birds of paradise, succulents, dracaenas, ponytails, for all gardens sizes from small to large landscaped gardens. Advanced Date Palms available.
www.palmnursery.com.au/index.htm
52 Rodd St Canowindra NSW 2804
An online nursery specialising in drought and frost tolerant perennials and fragrant, edible and herbs.
www.perennialle.com.au
email ask@plantmark.com.au
One of Australia's largest wholesale trade nurseries. Over 30,000 species available, tubestock to advanced trees, an almost unlimited choice of plants.
www.plantmark.com.au
EUDLO CYCAD GARDENS
321 Ilkley Rd Eudlo 4554 – Ph: 1800 072 999
SHOWPLANTS Pty Ltd phone: 07 3217 0755 fax: 07 3217 0750
174 Dowding Street Oxley Queensland 4075
RORAIMA NURSERY – phone/Fax: (03) 5282 8704
20 Swan Street, Lara, Vic. 3212 Contact: