Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Thompson's Yucca 1 Head 5-7 ft
Thompson's Yucca 1 Head 5-7 ft is a tall, single-headed Thompson's yucca, already 5 to 7 feet with a visible trunk under one rosette of short, blue-silver leaves. That is close to the height many of these yuccas reach after years of slow growth. Set against a tall wall or building, it gives a finished silhouette on day one. It takes full sun, reflected heat and hard cold.
Best for: instant height against a tall wall or building, a focal point in a large desert bed, and hot, reflected-heat spots.
Thompson's yucca grows slowly, and 5 to 7 feet is near its usual mature height. This plant gives you that height now.
Set it in front of a tall wall or building, where the trunk and single head read as a clean silhouette. It handles the reflected heat off those surfaces.
In a large desert bed it stands above low agaves and golden barrel cactus, anchoring the planting.
Soggy ground rots the roots, so plant it where water drains. A tall plant can lean while rooting in, so firm the soil well around it.
- Closer group3 ft apart, center to center
- Wider group4 ft apart, center to center
Keep the root area slightly damp until the plant roots in. Once rooted, give it a deep soak every 2 to 4 weeks in summer, less in spring and fall, and little or none in winter.
Set it at the depth it grew and keep the side that faced the sun facing south. At this height plan on two people, and firm the soil well so it stays upright. A light shade cloth helps until new growth shows, and it needs no fertilizer.
Old leaves fold down around the trunk, and trimming them is up to you. Cut spent flower stalks low once they finish.
If leaves wilt or lean and the base goes soft, look for snout weevil grubs at the base. Keep the soil on the dry side, and remove a collapsed plant with the soil around it.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
What does 1 head 5-7 ft mean?
The plant has a single rosette, or head, and stands about 5 to 7 feet tall now, with trunk showing below the leaves.
Will it get much taller?
It will not get much taller. Thompson's yucca usually reaches about 6 feet and sometimes 10, and it grows slowly. Over years it can branch into more heads.
How do I plant a tall yucca?
Plan on two people for a plant this tall. Set it at the depth it grew with the sun side facing south, and firm the soil well so it stays upright while it roots.
How do I water it?
Keep the roots slightly damp until it roots in, then soak deeply every 2 to 4 weeks in summer and little or none in winter.
Can it take reflected heat?
Yes. It likes full sun and the reflected heat off tall walls and buildings.
How cold hardy is it?
It is very cold hardy, rated to about -20°F, and needs no frost cover in the Valley.
When does it bloom?
In late spring to early summer, with 3 to 5 foot stalks of creamy white flowers above the head.
How far apart should I plant them?
About 3 to 4 feet apart, center to center, for a group. The Spacing tab counts plants for your bed.
Thompson's Yucca 1 Head 5-7 ft for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
This Thompson's yucca is a tall single-head plant, 5 to 7 feet, that gives mature height right away. This page covers planting a tall yucca, water, heat, cold, flowers and spacing.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Tall single-head Thompson's yucca
A 5 to 7 foot plant with a visible trunk and one rosette, near its usual mature height.
Planting a tall yucca
Use two people, set it at the depth it grew, sun side south, and firm the soil well.
Thompson's yucca against a wall
It gives a clean silhouette against tall walls and handles their reflected heat.
Watering Thompson's yucca
Slightly damp until rooted, then a deep soak every 2 to 4 weeks in summer.
Is Thompson's yucca cold hardy?
Yes, to about -20°F.
Thompson's yucca flowers
Creamy white flowers on 3 to 5 foot stalks in late spring and early summer.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.