Yucca filamentosa (Adam’s Needle)

Native to the southeastern United States, Yucca filamentosa (Adam’s Needle) is a very ornamental, broadleaf evergreen shrub featuring a basal rosette of rigid, sword-shaped, spine-tipped, deep green leaves edged with curly filaments. They are topped in early to midsummer with a dramatic flowering stalk reaching 5-8 ft. (150-240 cm) and bearing panicles of nodding bell-shaped creamy white flowers about 2.5 in. long (6 cm). Foliage may also be variegated, adding a bright note to the garden year-round.

• Leaves form a foliage clump to 2-3 ft. tall and wide (60-90 cm).
• Winner of the 2012 Cary Award, which recognizes plants that are particularly adequate for New England, offer superior landscape appeal, are winter hardy in zone 5 or colder, and are pest resistant.
• Easily grown in light, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates poor, sandy soils and even a few hours of shade. Drought and salt tolerant.
• Great for beds and borders, city gardens, coastal gardens, rock gardens, or Mediterranean gardens.
• Virtually pest and disease free, but watch for aphids or potential leaf spot. Attracts moths and hummingbirds, but this plant is deer and rabbit resistant.
• Propagate by seed or remove rooted suckers
• Remove spent flowering stems.
• Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
• Yucca filamentosa is native to southeastern North America.
• Main Yucca filamentosa cultivars are:
  ‘Color Guard‘ – with a brilliant yellow center to the sword-like leaves tinged with pink and rose during the winter months.
  ‘Gold Sword‘ – similar to ColorGuard but with streaks of gold and green at the center of the leaves
  ‘Gold Edge‘ – rimmed with creamy yellow.