Pruning a Giant Yucca (Yucca cane) That's Too Tall

How to Reduce the Height of an Overgrown Yucca

Jane's 9-foot yucca has outgrown her home. She's hesitant to plant it outdoors in the UK climate and asked about pruning instead.

Pruning Is the Best Option

Late winter/early spring is the ideal time to prune. Using a sharp pruning saw, cut the main stem 24 inches above a leaf node. Remove lower leaves from the cut-off section, dip the cut end in rooting hormone, and plant it in a 10-inch pot with cactus mix. Treat it like the parent plant. If you want the parent shorter, repeat: cut another 24-inch section above a leaf node and root it similarly. The parent can be repotted into a larger container, and the cuttings can be planted alongside it for a fuller look. Adjust cutting lengths to achieve your desired final height (e.g., two 24-inch cuts leaves a 5-foot parent).

Aftercare

Keep cuttings warm (above 65 °F), in bright indirect light, and barely moist until roots form (6–8 weeks). The parent will sprout new growth just below each cut. Yuccas are resilient; this method preserves the plant while creating new ones.