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Gerald L. Klingaman
Agavaceae
Yucca filamentosa
Adam's Needle
The landscape-worthy Adam's needle is certainly the most cultivated of all Yucca species. A widespread native of the eastern United States, it forms bold, dense clusters of long, sharp leaves that look super all season long. In the summer, large spikes of showy ivory flowers are produced. Wild plants are most commonly found growing in open, upland forests and prairies where the soil is often sandy.
Adam’s needle forms large, spiky rosettes of long, sword-shaped leaves. These range in color from medium green to gray or blue-green. Mature clumps will form offsets to create slowly spreading colonies. Tall flower stalks are produced in late=spring to summer. These are lined with ivory, bell-shaped blooms that are fragrant and pollinated at night by yucca moths. The blooms are followed by bulbous, green seed capsules that turn dry and dark brown when mature.
Full sun and well-drained, average to poor, sandy loam are best for this resilient plant, and little care and maintenance are needed to keep it performing well. Established plants are tolerant of heat and harsh sun. Adam's needle looks great planted in masses in dry, sunny beds and borders, and its coarse, upright foliage is highly deer resistant.
There are many Adam’s needle cultivars, many being beautifully variegated. Some finer selections include yhe gold-edged ‘Bright Edge’ and ivory and green ‘Variegata.’ Adam’s needle is the larval host for the yucca giant-skipper and cofaqui giant-skipper butterflies.
12 - 5
5 - 10
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
Perennial
Full Sun
2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, Central United States, South-Central United States
Neutral, Alkaline
Well Drained
Clay, Loam, Sand
Pollution, Salt, Soil Compaction
Medium
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
Clump-Forming
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Showy
White, Ivory
Green, Brown, Sandy Brown
Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
Yes
No
Single
Bold
Matte
Edging, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Birds, Butterflies
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