Yucca
Spineless yuccaYucca cane, Stick yucca
Spineless yucca
A sun-lover wrongly sold as a shade plant: give it your brightest window and very little water.
Care
As much light as possible, including direct sun; in low light it grows thin and pale.
Low — water thoroughly, then let most of the compost dry out; very little in winter.
Free-draining, loam-based compost with grit; a heavy pot helps stop it toppling.
Cut back an over-tall cane in spring; it resprouts below the cut, and the top can be rooted.
A balanced feed monthly in spring and summer, none in winter.
Sections of cane or rooted offsets potted in gritty compost in spring and early summer.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- MayCan go outdoors in a sunny spot for summer once nights are mild. how ›
- SeptemberBring back inside before nights get cold. how ›
- DecemberWater only occasionally in winter. how ›
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilCan go outdoors in a sunny spot for summer once nights are mild. how ›
- SeptemberBring back inside before nights get cold. how ›
- DecemberWater only occasionally in winter. how ›
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Base of the cane soft; leaves yellow and collapse.
What to do. Overwatering; usually fatal to that cane — root the healthy top.
How to spot it. Dry brown tips.
What to do. Common and mostly cosmetic; dry air or irregular watering.
How to spot it. Long weak stems.
What to do. Needs more light.
Adam's needleNeedle palm
Adam's needle
A plant for the driest, sunniest, poorest spot in the garden — it asks for nothing but drainage.
Care
Full sun.
Very low — drought-proof once established; winter wet is the danger, not cold.
Very free-draining soil; sand, gravel or chalk.
Cut the spent flower spike at the base and pull away dead lower leaves. Rosettes that have flowered are replaced by offsets.
No feeding needed.
Detach rooted offsets from the base in spring.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- AprilPull away dead lower leaves.
- OctoberCut the spent flower spike at the base.
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- AprilPull away dead lower leaves.
- OctoberCut the spent flower spike at the base.
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchPull away dead lower leaves.
- OctoberCut the spent flower spike at the base.
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchPull away dead lower leaves.
- NovemberCut the spent flower spike at the base.
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Centre of the rosette rots in winter.
What to do. Soil too wet; replant in gravel or a raised bed.
How to spot it. Brown spots on older leaves.
What to do. Remove affected leaves.
How to spot it. Stiff, pointed leaves.
What to do. Keep away from paths and where children play.
Questions
Yucca: is it hardy?
Spineless yucca: H2: Tender. It survives down to 1 °C. Adam's needle: H5: Hardy in most of the UK, but can struggle in the coldest inland or upland spots. It survives down to −15 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Spineless yucca: Yes — a large houseplant; use a heavy pot. Adam's needle: Yes in a gritty compost, with good drainage.
Yucca: when do you prune it?
Spineless yucca: Cut back an over-tall cane in spring; it resprouts below the cut, and the top can be rooted. Adam's needle: Cut the spent flower spike at the base and pull away dead lower leaves. In the calendar for UK, pruning falls in April, October.
Yucca: when does it flower?
Adam's needle: In the climate of UK it flowers in July–September.
When do you feed it?
Spineless yucca: A balanced feed monthly in spring and summer, none in winter. Feeding months, UK: April–August. Adam's needle: No feeding needed.