Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Yellow Yucca
Yellow Yucca is the yellow-flowered form of Red Yucca. It grows the same fountain of narrow, gray-green leaves, about 3 to 4 feet tall. From spring into summer, stalks of yellow tubular flowers rise above the leaves and bring in hummingbirds. It takes full sun and reflected heat, and planted next to Red Yucca the two colors make a bright mix.
Best for: mixing with Red Yucca for two flower colors, pool and patio edges, hot beds in reflected heat, and large containers.
Mixing Yellow Yucca and Red Yucca in the same bed gives a showy yellow and coral-red combination in spring. Both have the same size, leaves and care, so they grow as one planting.
It is often planted in pool areas and along patios. The narrow leaves are generally soft at the tips, and the clump stays about 3 to 5 feet wide.
It handles full sun and reflected heat, so it suits hot beds near walls and driveways. It also grows well as the accent in a large container.
It blooms less in shade, and heavy soil that stays wet can rot the roots. Shearing ruins the fountain shape, so trim only stalks and dead leaves. Young plants can need a wire cage against javelina and rabbits.
- Closer group4 ft apart
- Wider group6 ft apart
Water it regularly through the first year, but do not overdo it. Soil that stays wet can rot the roots.
Once rooted, rain covers much of the year. In summer, give it a deep soak every 2 to 4 weeks to keep it growing and blooming.
Cut spent flower stalks at the base once they finish, and pull out old dead leaves, which come out easily. Never shear the clump, since that ruins its fountain shape.
Javelina can dig up the plant for its roots. Put a wire cage around young plants for the first year.
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.
Is Yellow Yucca a different plant from Red Yucca?
No. It is the same plant with yellow flowers in place of coral-red. The yellow form is less common, but its size, leaves and care match Red Yucca.
Is Yellow Yucca a real yucca?
No. It is a Hesperaloe, a close relative of agaves and yuccas. The name comes from its yucca-like leaves and tall flower stalks.
How big does Yellow Yucca get?
The leaf clump grows about 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide, and the flower stalks rise to about 5 feet. It grows at a slow to moderate pace, so give it room to widen over time.
How far apart should I plant Yellow Yucca?
Plant them about 4 feet apart for a closer group, or 6 feet apart for a wider one. The Spacing tab shows both options.
When does Yellow Yucca bloom?
It starts blooming in spring, with flowers lasting into late summer on stalks held well above the leaves. A deep soak every 2 to 4 weeks in summer keeps it blooming.
Does Yellow Yucca attract hummingbirds?
Yes. The tubular yellow flowers draw hummingbirds, the same as the red form. Plant it where you can watch them from spring into summer.
How often should I water Yellow Yucca?
Water it regularly the first year, without overdoing it. Once it is rooted, rain covers much of the year, and a deep soak every 2 to 4 weeks in summer keeps it growing and blooming.
Can I plant Yellow Yucca by the pool?
Yes. It is commonly used in pool areas. The leaves are generally soft at the tips, and it drops little litter.
Can I mix Yellow Yucca with Red Yucca?
Yes. Planted together, the yellow and coral-red flower stalks make a showy mix. Both need the same sun, water and trimming.
How do I trim Yellow Yucca?
Cut spent flower stalks down at the base once they finish, and pull old dead leaves, which come out easily. Never shear it, since that ruins the fountain shape.
How much heat and cold can it take?
It takes full sun and reflected heat, and it is rated hardy to about -20°F. It also tolerates some light shade if the soil drains well, though it blooms less there.
Will javelina or rabbits bother it?
Yes, they can. Javelina can dig up the plant to eat the roots, so put a wire cage around young plants for the first year.
Yellow Yucca for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Yellow Yucca is the less common, yellow-flowered form of Red Yucca, a clumping evergreen from the Chihuahuan Desert. It has the same narrow leaves, heat tolerance and low water needs, with yellow flowers in place of coral-red. This page covers its size, spacing, bloom, watering and trimming, and how it pairs with Red Yucca in a Valley yard.
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.
What is the difference between Yellow Yucca and Red Yucca?
They are the same plant, Hesperaloe parviflora, with different flower colors. Yellow Yucca has yellow flowers and Red Yucca has coral-red ones. Size, leaves, water and cold hardiness are the same, and the yellow form is the less common of the two.
How big does Yellow Yucca get in Arizona?
The clump of narrow, gray-green leaves grows about 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide, and the flower stalks rise to about 5 feet. It grows at a slow to moderate pace and widens over time.
How far apart do you plant Yellow Yucca?
Plant them about 4 feet apart for a closer group, or 6 feet apart center to center. Each clump grows 3 to 5 feet wide.
How often do you water Yellow Yucca in Phoenix?
Water it regularly the first year without overdoing it. Once it is rooted, rain covers much of the year. A deep soak every 2 to 4 weeks in summer keeps it growing and blooming.
Does Yellow Yucca attract hummingbirds?
Yes. Its yellow tubular flowers draw hummingbirds from spring into summer. The flowers open on stalks held well above the leaves.
Is Yellow Yucca good around a pool?
Yes. It is commonly planted in pool areas. The leaves are generally soft at the tips, it drops little litter, and it takes full sun and reflected heat.
Can you plant Yellow Yucca and Red Yucca together?
Yes. Mixing the two makes a showy yellow and coral-red combination in spring. They share the same size and care, so they grow evenly side by side.
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.