Adam's Needle (Yucca filamentosa): Sword Leaves with Curly Threads

Adam's needle (Yucca filamentosa), also called spoonleaf yucca or needle-palm, is a stemless, clump-forming perennial with rigid, sword-shaped, blue-green leaves edged with curly, white filaments. In early summer, it sends up a tall (6–10 feet) spike of creamy-white, bell-shaped flowers.

Features

The leaf rosette reaches 2–3 feet tall and wide. The filaments give a distinctive texture. Very drought-tolerant and cold-hardy (zones 4–10). Many variegated cultivars exist ('Color Guard', 'Bright Edge').

Culture

Full sun; well-drained soil (essential). Drought-tolerant once established. Remove spent flower stalk. Divide clumps in spring. Sharp leaf tips—plant away from walkways.

Taxonomy

• Family: Agavaceae (Asparagaceae)
• Genus: Yucca
• Species: filamentosa
• Synonyms: Yucca concava, Yucca filamentosa subsp. concava, Yucca smalliana, Yucca flaccida