Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Thompson's Yucca 2 Head
This Thompson's yucca is a two-head specimen, a plant that has already branched into two rosettes of short, blue-silver leaves. Thompson's yucca grows slowly, and heads like these take years to form. The old leaves hang down neatly around the trunk, and in late spring to early summer it sends up tall stalks of large white flowers. It thrives in full sun and reflected heat on little water.
Best for: an instant focal point against a tall wall or building, hot spots with reflected heat, and desert beds with low agaves and barrel cactus.
Thompson's yucca grows slowly into several heads. This plant already has two, so you skip years of waiting for it to branch.
Set it against a tall wall or building to show off its silhouette. It takes full sun and the reflected heat that comes off those surfaces.
Pair it with low-growing agaves and golden barrel cactus. The blue-silver heads stand above them.
Each short leaf ends in a sharp spine and has fine teeth, so keep it back from walkways and pool edges. It needs well-drained soil, and soggy ground leads to rot.
- Close group3-4 ft apart
- Full spread5-6 ft apart
Keep the root area slightly damp until a new plant roots in, then stretch the time between waterings. Once rooted, soak it deeply about every 2 to 4 weeks in summer, less in spring and fall, and little or none in winter. Let the soil dry between soakings.
Plant it at the same depth it grew and keep the same side facing south. Shade a new plant with shade cloth until new growth shows, and skip the fertilizer, since it does not need any.
Old leaves fold down into a shaggy skirt, and removing them is optional. Cut each spent flower stalk low after it finishes. It blooms again in later years.
Snout weevils are the pest to watch for on yuccas. Leaves wilt or lean, the base goes soft, and the plant collapses. Good drainage and little water once rooted keep it healthy. Remove a collapsed plant and the soil around it so grubs do not spread.
It is rated to about -10 to -20°F. Keep the soil on the dry side in winter, since wet, cool soil leads to rot.
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 2 head mean?
Thompson's yucca branches into several rosettes, or heads, as it ages. This plant has already formed two.
How big does Thompson's yucca get?
Most plants reach about 6 feet tall, and some reach 10. Width runs about 4 to 10 feet as the heads multiply.
How fast does it grow?
It is a slow grower. That is why a plant that already has two heads saves years.
Can Thompson's yucca take reflected heat?
Yes. It likes full sun and reflected heat, including spots against tall walls and buildings.
How often should I water it?
Water more often until it roots in. After that it is drought resistant. Water deeply and let the soil dry between waterings.
Is Thompson's yucca cold hardy?
Yes, it is very cold hardy. Most ratings put it at about -20°F. It needs no frost protection in the Valley.
Should I trim the old leaves?
Trimming them is up to you. The older leaves hang down neatly around the trunk like a coat. Leave them or trim them for a cleaner trunk.
When does it bloom?
In late spring to early summer, on stalks 3 to 5 feet tall covered with large, creamy white flowers. It does not die after blooming.
Is Thompson's yucca the same as beaked yucca?
No, but they look alike. Young plants resemble beaked yucca, and Thompson's is somewhat smaller, with different growth habits as it ages.
Are the leaves sharp?
Yes. Each leaf ends in a sharp spine and has fine teeth along the edges.
Is Thompson's yucca toxic to pets?
Yucca is listed as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. In dogs and cats, chewing it usually causes vomiting. The sharp tips can also injure a pet.
Thompson's Yucca 2 Head for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Thompson's yucca is a slow-growing, blue-silver yucca that branches into several heads with age. This listing is a two-head specimen, so the branching has already started. Below are the questions Valley homeowners ask most about it.
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Multi-head Thompson's yucca in Phoenix
Thompson's yucca grows slowly into several heads. A two-head plant gives you that branched look now, without the years of waiting.
Thompson's yucca for reflected heat
It likes full sun and reflected heat. Set it against a tall wall or building to show off its silhouette.
How big Thompson's yucca gets
Most plants reach about 6 feet tall, some up to 10, and 4 to 10 feet wide. The short blue-silver leaves form neat, symmetrical heads.
How far apart to plant Thompson's yucca
Set plants 3 to 4 feet apart for a close group. Allow 5 to 6 feet to give each one its full spread.
Thompson's yucca vs beaked yucca
Young plants look like beaked yucca. Thompson's is somewhat smaller and branches into several heads as it ages.
Thompson's yucca flowers
In late spring to early summer it sends up 3 to 5 foot stalks of large, creamy white flowers. The plant keeps growing after it blooms.
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