YUCCA WHIPPLEI

Botanical Name: Yucca whipplei
Common Names: Our Lord’s Candle, Whipple’s Yucca
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Requirements: Well-drained soils; tolerates rocky, sandy, and poor substrates
Water Needs: Low; highly drought-tolerant once established
Foliage: Rosettes of narrow, sharp, stiff gray-green leaves with fibrous margins
Flowers: Tall flowering stalk (up to 10 feet / 3 meters) with creamy white to pale yellow bell-shaped flowers, appearing once at maturity before the plant dies
Growth Rate: Moderate

Uses:

• Ornamental Plant: Yucca whipplei is admired for its dramatic rosette form and towering flower stalk, making it a striking feature in xeriscapes and dry gardens.

• Xeriscaping: Perfect for water-efficient landscapes in arid and semi-arid climates, requiring minimal care.

• Cultural Uses: Historically used by indigenous peoples for fibers and food.

Benefits:

• Drought Resistance: Thrives in hot, dry environments with very little irrigation needed after establishment.

• Low Maintenance: Robust and pest-resistant; requires minimal upkeep aside from removal of old flower stalks.

• Ecological Value: Its impressive flowering stalk attracts pollinators such as moths and bees, supporting local ecosystems.

• Lifecycle: Monocarpic plant that produces a spectacular bloom once before dying, adding unique seasonal interest.

Yucca whipplei is a hardy, visually dramatic succulent that enhances dry-climate gardens with its bold form and ecological benefits. Its cultural significance and distinctive flowering make it a valued plant for xeriscaping and native landscaping.