How to Grow Yucca aloifolia Plants in your Garden

Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Spanish Bayonet

Yucca aloifolia, a member of the Agavaceae family, makes an elegant addition to any xeriscape.

Commonly called Spanish bayonet, Spanish dagger, Aloe yucca, and Dagger plant, it features green, sword-shaped leaves. Be careful not to let them poke you!

Yucca aloifoliais deer resistant, drought tolerant, and makes a lovely border.

Yucca aloifolia (Spanish bayonet, dagger plant); Habit at Garden of Eden Keanae, Maui, Hawaii. photograph by Forest and Kim Starr.

This evergreen shrub grows 10 - 15 ft (3 to 5 m) tall and 3 - 5 ft (0.9 to 1.5 m) wide. Its stocky trunk may be branched or unbranched.

In spring and/or summer, plants carry fragrant clusters of creamy white, bell-shaped flowers on tall spikes.

These are followed by large, oval-shaped fruits. According to NC State Extension, the flowers and fruits can be eaten raw or cooked.

Yucca aloifoliais native to coastal areas in the American south. As a result, it tolerates salt spray and prefers well-drained, sandy soil. NC State Extension recommends it for USDA Hardiness Zones 6a - 11a.

Gardener's HQ Yucca aloifolia Growing Guide

You can propagate plants from cuttings or seeds.

To obtain seeds, harvest seed capsules from an established plant as they start to dry. When they have finished drying, crush them open.

Initially, keep the seeds in moist sand in your fridge winter-long. Sow them out when temperatures average 60 - 70°F, after the last frost.

This plant grows slowly. Water Yucca aloifolia weekly during its active growth period, but sparingly in winter.

In spring and summer, apply liquid-soluble fertilizer every third watering.

I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Yucca aloifolia. You may also enjoy the following growing guides: Yucca elata plants and advice on Growing Yucca baccata.