Spineless Yucca

Spineless Yucca (Yucca elephantipes) gives you the sculptural look of a desert plant without the sharp leaf tips, which is why landscapers use it beside paths, pools and entries. It builds a thick pale trunk topped with arching sword shaped leaves, reaching about 4.5m tall and 2m wide outdoors over many years and staying far smaller in a pot. Mature plants send up a spike of creamy white flowers in warm weather. It is also one of the few architectural plants that lives happily indoors.

Why you'll love it

• No spines. The leaf tips are soft compared with other yuccas, so it can sit beside a footpath, a pool fence or a doorway without catching anyone.
• Very hard to kill. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and content in poor soil. Neglect suits it better than fussing does.
• Strong form. A clean trunk under a bold head of foliage reads well against rendered walls and modern paving.
• Indoors or out. The same plant works in a bright corner inside and in full sun outside.
• Coastal capable. Salt tolerant, so it holds up where softer feature plants scorch.

Where it works best

Feature planting. Use one as a full stop at the end of a bed, or plant three at staggered heights. Allow about 2m of clear space per plant.

Pots and courtyards. A 400mm to 500mm pot of free draining mix holds a plant for years, and the restricted root run keeps it compact.

Poolside. Leaf drop is minimal and the foliage handles splash, so it does not fill the skimmer basket.

Growing Spineless Yucca in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun outdoors, or bright indirect light inside. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens, which covers most of the country. It takes light frost only, so in Canberra, the tablelands, Tasmania and cold inland districts treat it as a pot plant that winters under cover.

Soil. Drainage matters far more than fertility. On clay, plant high on a mound, because wet feet through winter is the one thing that reliably kills it.

Water and feed. Water weekly for the first two months, then only in long dry spells. In pots, let the mix dry right through between waterings. A slow release fertiliser once in spring is plenty.

Pruning. Remove old leaves as they brown off. If a plant gets too tall, cut the trunk at the height you want in spring and it will branch below the cut.

Pets. The leaves and sap contain saponins and are toxic to cats and dogs, so plant it out of reach of a chewing pet.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in five sizes: tube, 200mm in packs of six, 300mm, 400mm and 100L. Tube and 200mm plants are young clumps and the value option for filling a bed. The 300mm and 400mm sizes arrive with a recognisable trunk and head, and the 100L is a large specimen with real weight on day one.

The stiff foliage travels well. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and advanced and large stock freighted at cost. Expect little visible change for six weeks, then new leaves from the crown. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse architectural plants for designer gardens
• Shop drought tolerant plants
• Compare poolside planting options
• Low maintenance architectural planting

Common questions

How big will it actually get in my garden?

About 4.5m tall and 2m wide outdoors, though that takes many years because it grows slowly. In a pot it sits between 1.5m and 2m indefinitely, and you can cut the trunk back to reset the height.

Can I grow it indoors permanently?

Yes, in a bright room. The two mistakes are too little light, which stretches the plant, and too much water, which rots the trunk.

Why are the lower leaves going brown?

Older leaves browning off is normal ageing, and it is how the trunk gets exposed. Brown tips on new growth usually mean underwatering in a hot spell.