James H. Schutte
Family
Agavaceae
Botanical Name
Yucca gloriosa var. recurvifolia
Plant Common Name
Curve-leaf Yucca, Curveleaf yucca, Pendulous Yucca
General Description
The popular and widely planted Yucca gloriosa var. recurvifolia is admired for its exceptional adaptability, elegant upright habit and prolific flower display. It originates from the dunes and gravelly soils along the Gulf Coastal Plain and the South Atlantic Coast but is equally at home in the arid desert gardens of the American Southwest.
Young plants produce bold dense rosettes of broad, strappy, deep blue-gray leaves. These have sharp tips and are so long they bend downward. In time, it develops a broad, short, trunk-like base that gives the plant a squat tree-like appearance. 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.
In the landscape, pendula yucca makes a dramatic addition to large sunny borders and foundations with very well-drained, average to poor soil. It will not tolerate “wet feet” so be sure that it has very sharply drained soil. Mature specimens are next to impossible to transplant, so this yucca is best planted when young. This bold desert ornamental creates an outstanding focal specimen for any large landscape.
It’s not uncommon to find them located between homes, creatively pruned to make the swollen trunk-like base far more visible.
Many horticultural references list this species as Yucca recurvifolia or Yucca pendula.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 7
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USDA Hardiness Zone
7 - 11
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Sunset Zone
7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Perennial
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
8'-10' / 2.4m - 3.0m
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Width
6'-8' / 1.8m - 2.4m
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Bloom Time
Summer
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Native To
Southeastern United States, South-Central United States
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Salt
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Growth Rate
Slow
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Water Requirements
Xeric/Desert, Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Clump-Forming
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Ivory
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Fruit Color
Brown, Chocolate
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Light Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Light Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Light Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Light Green, Blue Green, Gray Green
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Bark Color
Tan, Sandy Brown
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Bold
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
