Other Names:  Spanish Bayonet, Narrow-leaf Yucca

Description:

This sculptural plant bears narrow sword-like leaves of blue-green, maturing to dark green; short spikes of nodding cream and pale purple bell flowers in summer; good for dry sites and coastal areas; great for borders, patios and containers

Ornamental Features

Harriman's Yucca features bold spikes of creamy white bell-shaped flowers with lavender streaks rising above the foliage from mid to late summer, which emerge from distinctive brick red flower buds. It has attractive green evergreen foliage. The sword-like leaves are highly ornamental and remain green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Harriman's Yucca is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spiny

Harriman's Yucca is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Harriman's Yucca will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity extending to 30 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 20 inches. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America.

Harriman's Yucca makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. It can be used either as 'filler' or as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, depending on the height and form of the other plants used in the container planting. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.