Plant Library

Other Names:  Palma China, St. Peter's Palm, Mexican Tree Yucca

Description:

This fast growing tree variety bears sharp pointed, olive-green sword-like leaves with fine curly filaments; long, weeping spikes of cream bell flowers in summer; good for dry sites and coastal areas; tolerates poor soil

Ornamental Features

Tree Yucca features bold panicles of white bell-shaped flowers hanging below the branches from early to mid summer. It has attractive olive green foliage with hints of silvery blue. The spiny sword-like leaves are highly ornamental and remain olive green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Tree Yucca is an evergreen plant with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds, bees and butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spiny

Tree Yucca is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Tree Yucca will grow to be about 25 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.

This plant 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 xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. 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 not originally from North America.

Tree Yucca is a fine choice for the yard, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Its large size and upright habit of growth lend it for use as a solitary accent, or in a composition surrounded by smaller plants around the base and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. 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.