Scientific: Yucca gloriosa var. recurvifolia (Synonyms: Yucca recurvifolia, Yucca gloriosa var. tristis, Yucca pendula)
Common: curveleaf yucca, pendulous yucca, spineless yucca
Family: Asparagaceae (subfamily Agavoideae)
Origin: Southeastern United States, reportedly from Georgia to Louisiana. Though because it has been recently reclassified as either a natural hybrid or a varietal phenotype of Yucca gloriosa many will say it has no 'unique' native range.
Pronounciation: YUK-ka glor-ee-O-sa re-cur-vi-FOL-ee-a
Hardiness zones
Landscape Use: Accent, border, focal point, oasis landscape plantings,
container plant, shade gardens.
Form & Character: Upright and spreading, Spanish architecture, less obtrusive and more people friendly than other yuccas.
Growth Habit: Evergreen, fibrous, monocot perennial shrub, quite slow to 6- to 10-feet tall, caulescent, occasionally branching.
Foliage/Texture: Strap-shaped leaves, 2- to 3-feet long, slightly glaucous and pendulous, flexible, sometimes tinged with red; coarse texture.
Sunset 7-10, 12-24
USDA 7-11
Flowers & Fruits: White flowers grown in clusters on 3- to 4-feet flower stalks; fruits multicarpulate, seeds black.
Seasonal Color: White during May in Phoenix, June elsewhere. Often repeats flowering in early fall.
Temperature: Tolerant, hardy to 0oF.
Light: In Phoenix, partial shade is best, full sun often yellows foliage. Avoid western exposures.
Soil: Tolerant, but well-drained soils result in better performance.
Watering: Thrives with regular water in a well-drained soil.
Pruning: Only remove dead leaves. Recent "trends" are to "skin" this plant like it's some miniature Mexican fan palm - honestly quite the odd horticultural practice.
Propagation: Seed, short stem cuttings.
Disease and Pests: Spider mites when folaige is chronically dusty.
Additional comments: This is a mesic yucca that prefers a little break from the hot western summer afternoon sun. It's surprisingly cold tolerant and is grown as an ormamental in even Europe (which leads me to favor the old taxonomic name, Yucca recurvifolia). Here's an image of curveleaf yucca growing in an Orthodox monastery in Tryon, Bulgaria. And here it is used as a landscape shrub in a sidewalk planter along a street in Kjardali, Bulgaria.
There are many varietal and cultivated selections including:
