Yucca gloriosa

A bold, palm-like yucca with tall spikes of bell- shaped white flowers that add striking drama in summer. Particularly effective potted by the pool or as a focal point in meadows of swaying grasses, where its architectural silhouette can really be appreciated.

Yucca gloriosa is a native of southeastern North America with stiff sword-shaped blue-green leaves arranged in dense rosettes atop a short thick trunk that branches with age. Spectacular tall stems of fragrant cream-white bell-shaped flowers, sometimes tinged purple, rise 1.5–2 m above the foliage from late summer through autumn — typically August to October in the Mediterranean. Unlike many yuccas, the leaves of Y. gloriosa have softer tips that are less dangerously sharp, making it safer for general garden use. Hardy to -15°C, exceptionally drought-tolerant, salt-tolerant — it grows on Atlantic coastal dunes — and tolerant of poor sandy soils and reflected heat.

Glorious yucca reaches 1.5–3 m tall and 1–2 m wide, building a multi-trunked sculpture over many years. Use as a coastal landmark plant where its salt tolerance excels, as a dramatic specimen in dry borders and gravel gardens, in pairs flanking gates and pool steps, and in large architectural containers on hot terraces. The blue-green sword leaves and dramatic autumn flowering combine beautifully with the silver of Lavandula and Westringia, the warm golden grasses Stipa tenuissima and Pennisetum, and the magenta of Bougainvillea and Cistus. The variegated 'Variegata' has yellow-edged leaves and lights up dark backgrounds. Plant well away from paths — even the soft-tipped leaves are firm enough to catch clothing.