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Yucca filamentosa 'Color Guard'

Image of Yucca filamentosa 'Color Guard'

Terra Nova Nurseries, Inc.

Family

Agavaceae

Botanical Name

Yucca filamentosa 'Color Guard'

Plant Common Name

Adam's Needle, Color Guard Adam's Needle, Color Guard Yucca

General Description

The beautiful variegated foliage of 'Color Guard' really stands out in the garden. Its dense clusters of sharp, lance-shaped leaves are green with a central yellow stripe. The yellow stripe is wide and retains its color all season, even in the intense summer sun.

Adam's needle is a large, clump-forming evergreen perennial that originates from the Central and eastern United States and Canada. It forms large rosettes of sharp, upright, strap-like leaves and spreads over time to form new rosettes of foliage at its base. Each rosette produces a tall, upright, branched flower stalk that becomes covered with bell-shaped blooms of ivory. Its flowers are fragrant at night and attract moths. They are followed by bulbous brown seed capsules that split open and release their brown, flattened seeds later in the season.

Adam's needle is tolerant of lots of harsh growing conditions including high heat, drought, and aerosol and soil borne salt. It grows best in full to partial sun and requires soil with perfect drainage for good health. A wide range of neutral to alkaline soil types are tolerated. This easy to grow North American native looks best planted in bold masses and pairs well with low groundcovers, such as a creeping phlox or Sedum 'Angelina.' Its coarse, upright foliage is deer resistant too.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    12 - 5

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    5 - 10

  • Sunset Zone

    H1, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Perennial

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun

  • Height

    2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m

  • Width

    2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m

  • Bloom Time

    Early Summer, Summer

  • Native To

    Northeastern United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, Canada

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Neutral, Alkaline

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Clay, Loam, Sand

  • Tolerances

    Pollution, Salt, Soil Compaction

  • Growth Rate

    Fast

  • Water Requirements

    Drought Tolerant, Average Water

  • Habit

    Rosette/Stemless

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    White, Ivory

  • Fruit Color

    Brown, Sandy Brown

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Yellow, Green, Light Yellow

  • Foliage Color (Spring) Modifier

    Variegated, Striped/Striated

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Yellow, Green, Light Yellow

  • Foliage Color (Summer) Modifier

    Variegated, Striped/Striated

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Yellow, Green, Gray Green, Light Yellow

  • Foliage Color (Fall) Modifier

    Variegated, Striped/Striated

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Yellow, Green, Gray Green, Light Yellow

  • Foliage Color (Winter) Modifier

    Variegated, Striped/Striated

  • Fragrant Flowers

    Yes

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    No

  • Showy Fruit

    Yes

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    Yes

  • Foliage Texture

    Bold

  • Foliage Sheen

    Matte

  • Evergreen

    Yes

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Edging, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    Yes

  • Invasive

    No

  • Attracts

    Birds, Butterflies

  • Self-Sowing

    No