The yuccas are beautiful plants with a very graphic port, ideal in background of dry rocky outcrops or as an isolated subject on a lawn, or even in a patio, to take full advantage of their very particular silhouettes. Some species are more hardy than others, do not hesitate to plant them in the garden!
General conditions for good hardiness in yucca
Hardiness depends of course on the chosen species, but also on the planting conditions which, if optimal, will improve it further. Yuccas appreciate above all a very sunny exposure and a well-drained soil, even stony, sandy and poor. Never plant a yucca in soil that retains moisture, it will not resist for long.
Hardy yucca species
Here is a small list of yuccas that you can plant if your garden is not necessarily located in the hottest areas of the country:
Yucca glauca
Yucca glauca is undoubtedly the most hardy since it can tolerate temperatures around -35°C. This species does not have a stipe, it simply forms a tuft of thin, stiff, blue glaucous leaves. Its habit makes it an ideal subject in rock or mineral massif in company of cacti or alpine plants depending on the region of implantation.
Yucca filamentosa
Yucca filamentosa does not form a stipe and is composed of a tuft of leaves wrapped and edged with filaments. With the floral stems appearing in early summer, the plant can still reach 2.5 m in height. This species, which also exists in a variegated version (Yucca filamentosa 'Brigt Eye'), is resistant to temperatures of -20°C.
Yucca baccata
Yucca baccata is a plant rarely exceeding one meter in height. It forms a short stipe after a few years. The slender, rigid, glaucous/greyish green foliage ends with sharp tips. Resistant to -20 °C or even -30 °C in dry conditions, this species must be planted outside of traffic areas to avoid causing injury.
Yucca gloriosa
Yucca gloriosa is the most common species in gardens. It has a stipe, often branched, with tough leaves of a beautiful green with sharp tips. Being able to reach more than 4 meters in height and as much spreading, it does wonders on well exposed slopes. This species tolerates temperatures as low as -20°C. The variety 'Variegata' has leaves with a bright yellow margin. The flowering in large white flower stems occurs in summer and even in autumn in the most southern regions.
Yucca elata
Yucca elata has a beautiful tuft of erect, flexible, filamentous leaves. Over the years, it forms a short stipe. Despite its hardiness (-15°C) this yucca needs heat to grow.
Yucca rostrata
Yucca rostrata is a very ornamental species with a graphic port. Its stipe has a ball of slender bluish leaves at its tip. This species, which can reach 4 meters in height, resists to -15°C in well drained soil.
Yucca brevifolia
Yucca brevifolia is the tallest species with almost 15 m reached in its original desert. Known as the 'Joshua Tree', it has an erect stipe that branches over time. The tufts of slender, tough, glaucous green leaves give rise to beautiful white flowers at the end of winter. This species resists to -18°C in dry conditions.
