Yucca Plants Found in Ohio

Yucca filamentosa

• Yucca filamentosa, also known commonly as Adam's needle, grows to 3 feet tall but flower stalks may reach heights up to 8 feet. Yucca filamentosa has a slow, radiating, clumping growth habit. It can grow in full sun to full shade, although plants in heavy shade may not bloom. This yucca species is tolerant of many stressful conditions, including poor soils, compaction, heat, drought, pollution and salt spray.

Yucca filamentosa "Bright Edge"

• Yucca filamentosa "Bright Edge" features green foliage with a well-formed, thin yellow margin. This variety is less prone to reversion to the solid-green foliage form than the "Golden Sword" variety.

Yucca filamentosa "Color Guard"

• The "Color Guard" variety of Yucca filamentosa has a well-defined yellow strip that runs down the center of each blade.

Yucca filamentosa "Golden Sword"

• "Golden Sword" yucca features foliage that has a green margin but poorly defined yellow streaks in the leaf center. Lateral shoots off of this plant are more likely than other varieties to revert to the species' original green foliage coloration.

Yucca filamentosa "Hofer Blue"

• Yucca filamentosa "Hofer Blue" is enjoyed for its uniquely colored foliage. Blades on this variety are blue-green to blue-silver in spring before fading each year to become blue-green in winter.

Other Cold-Tolerant Yuccas

• A handful of yucca species, although not native to Ohio, may be able to withstand the region's minimum temperatures. Soapweed yucca, known scientifically as Yucca glauca, is a short plant with blueish blades that can tolerate temperatures down to minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Yucca baccata can survive temperatures down to minus 20 degrees and Yucca elata is hardy to minus 10 degrees.