Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Thompson's Yucca 3 Head
This is a three-head Thompson's yucca, a mature-looking specimen with three rosettes of short blue-silver leaves on a branched trunk. Because the species grows slowly, a plant with three heads has many years of growth behind it. Set against a tall wall or building, it shows off a full, branched silhouette. It takes full sun and reflected heat on little water and blooms in late spring to early summer.
Best for: a finished, branched focal point against a tall wall or building, sunny spots with reflected heat, and low-water desert beds.
Three rosettes on one branched plant give the look of a mature yucca from day one. The species grows slowly, so this much branching takes years.
Place it against a tall wall or building where the three heads stand out. Full sun and heat bouncing off those walls suit it.
Once rooted it is drought resistant. Surround it with low agaves and golden barrel cactus for a desert grouping.
Every leaf has a sharp tip spine and small teeth, so give it room from paths and pools. Poorly drained, wet soil is the main way to lose it.
- Tight grouping3-4 ft apart
- Room to 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. It does not need any fertilizer.
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 main insect pest of 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 3 head mean on a Thompson's yucca?
It means the plant has branched into three rosettes, called heads. Thompson's yucca adds heads slowly with age, so a three-head plant is already well along.
Is a 3 head worth it over a 1 or 2 head?
It is the most branched plant we carry. The species grows slowly, so three heads means years of growth are already done, and it is the pick if you want a finished look right away.
How tall and wide does it get?
Most plants reach about 6 feet tall, some up to about 10, and 4 to 10 feet wide as heads are added. Leave that much room from paths and walls.
Can it handle full sun and reflected heat?
Yes. It likes full sun and reflected heat, so it fits a spot against a tall wall or building.
How much water does it need?
Water more often until it roots in. After that it is drought resistant, so soak it deeply and let the soil dry out in between.
How cold can Thompson's yucca get?
It is rated to somewhere between about -10 and -20°F, far colder than a Valley winter, so it needs no frost cover.
When will it flower?
It blooms in late spring to early summer, on 3 to 5 foot stalks of large creamy white flowers. The plant keeps growing afterward, so cut the spent stalk low when it finishes.
Do I need to trim the old leaves?
No. Old leaves hang down neatly around the trunk like a coat. Trim them only if you want a cleaner trunk.
Is it the same plant as beaked yucca?
No. Young Thompson's yucca looks like beaked yucca, but it stays somewhat smaller and grows differently as it ages. Check the tag or ask us if you are not sure which one you have.
Is Thompson's yucca safe around pets?
No. Yucca is listed as toxic to dogs, cats and horses, and chewing it usually causes vomiting in dogs and cats. The sharp tips can also injure a pet.
Thompson's Yucca 3 Head for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
A three-head Thompson's yucca is the most branched form we offer of this slow, blue-silver yucca. It gives a yard a mature, multi-headed specimen right away. Here is what Valley homeowners ask before planting one.
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.
Three-head Thompson's yucca specimens
A three-head plant has already branched into three rosettes. Thompson's yucca grows slowly, so this gives you a mature look without the long wait.
Where to plant a multi-head yucca in Phoenix
Put it in full sun against a tall wall or building. It likes reflected heat and shows off its branched silhouette there.
Thompson's yucca water needs
Water more often until it roots in, then deeply with long dry spells between. Soggy, poorly drained soil causes rot.
Thompson's yucca cold hardiness
Most ratings put it at about -20°F. Its native range runs from northern Mexico into west Texas and southeast New Mexico.
Spacing Thompson's yucca
Plant them 3 to 4 feet apart for a tight grouping. Allow 5 to 6 feet if you want each plant to spread fully.
Thompson's yucca bloom
Expect 3 to 5 foot stalks of large creamy white flowers from late spring into early summer. Cut each stalk low after it finishes.
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.