Do Yucca Plants Freeze?

Identification

• Yucca plants will freeze if they are planted outside and subjected to extremely harsh, winter climates. The yucca is a tropical or subtropical plant with fleshy, thick and water-filled leaves that make them susceptible to freeze damage. How much injury will occur is entirely dependent on the type of yucca.

Hardiness

• More than 20 species of the plant exist. Yucca thrives best in U.S. Department of Agriculture Hardiness Zones 4 through 11. However, those growing outdoors in zone 4 should be placed in protected sites. The majority of yuccas that form trunks are hardy to zone 7, which is a warmer, more arid environment.

Damage

• Freeze damage initially displays as spots, cracks or water-logged areas on the leaves of the yucca that look and feel mushy. The leaves will then turn brown and dry, causing aesthetic injury. In extreme cases, the plant may die. However, in some cases, the freezing can actually stimulate growth in lower sections of the yucca.