Weeping Yucca Plant Care

Weeping Yucca (Yucca flaccida) belongs to the Asparagaceae family within the Yucca genus. Weeping Yucca is native to south-central and southeastern North America, from the lower Great Plains eastward to the Atlantic seaboard in Virginia, south through Florida and the Gulf states. Weeping Yucca is also known as Soft Yucca, Adam's Needle.

Weeping Yucca displays an upright, architectural growth habit, reaching up to 6 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. Weeping Yucca produces creamy-white, bell-shaped flowers on tall spikes.

Leaf size: approximately 18 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Weeping Yucca every 14–21 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Weeping Yucca thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Yucca flaccida tolerates temperatures of 50–85°F. Weeping Yucca prefers humidity levels of 30–60%.

Sandy, well-draining soil mix with added perlite and gravel for good drainage. Good drainage is essential for Weeping Yucca to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Weeping Yucca every 8 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and sandy, well-draining soil mix with added perlite and gravel for good drainage. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Weeping Yucca is suited to USDA Zone 4a – 10b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Weeping Yucca can spread to about 3 ft (0.9 m) and reach about 6 ft (2 m) tall. Space plants about 3 ft (0.9 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Weeping Yucca while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Weeping Yucca is hardy down to USDA zone 4a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown trees need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Weeping Yucca can be propagated through offsets (pups), seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to spanish bayonet plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Weeping Yucca is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Weeping Yucca grows outdoors in USDA Zone 4a – 10b. It survives winters down to planting zone 4a. Weeping Yucca is native to south-central and southeastern North America, from the lower Great Plains eastward to the Atlantic seaboard in Virginia, south through Florida and the Gulf states.