Hardiness zones
Sunset 6-24
USDA 5-11
Landscape Use: Background, textural accent, container plant, Spanish or Mediterranean architecture
Form & Character: Clean, clumping, yet foreboding plant, stiff, upright, rigid, not people friendly
Growth Habit: Slowly and stiffly upright, clumping to 6' wide and 4' in height. Vigor much depends on water supply.
Foliage/texture: Strap leaves to 32" long are very rigid, upright and sharp pointed = DANGEROUS! Closely set on stems, margins occasionally thread bearing; medium coarse texture.
Flowers & fruits: Extended panicles to 2' of brilliant and large cream white flowers, sometimes tinged with red or purple to 4" across, fruit is fleshy and edible.
Seasonal color: Flower stalks in early summer.
Temperature: Banana yucca is hardy to -20oF and thrives in lower desert heat.
Light: Full sun to some partial shade.
Soil: Tolerant
Watering: Y. baccata is much more drought tolerant that Y. gloriosa or Y. recurvifolia.
Pruning: Delicately and gingerly remove old flower stalks wearing full protective clothing.
Propagation: Seed, cuttings (very easy to root), division (easy if only the leaves weren't so stout and pointed).
Disease and pests: Spider mites
Additional comments: Banana yucca is a VERY tough arid plant, but potentially VERY dangerous because of its stiff sharply pointed leaves. It is best used in very open large xeric landscape spaces AWAY from heavy human traffic and inflated sports balls. Banana yucca is a real 'downer' plant for volleyball, football, basketball, soccer, four square, and pool ball enthusiasts.
