Many people think of "yucca" primarily as the popular houseplant with the palm-like tuft of leaves and the thick trunk. What only a few know: The plant family of the yucca (as the yuccas are also called) includes about 50 different species and 30 subspecies - many of which are kept either in the garden or in indoor culture. Here we present the most beautiful types of yucca for indoor and outdoor use.
The Yucca Gloriosa impresses with its beautiful, white flowers
The most beautiful yucca species at a glance
In this table you will find an overview of the best-known and most popular types of yucca for home and garden. Many of the species listed can safely be planted in the garden and overwintered there, while others are only suitable for indoor cultivation. However, indoor yuccas also feel comfortable in the warm summer months in the fresh air - for example on the balcony or terrace.
| Yucca Art | German common name | origin | outdoors / indoors | Hardy yes / no | growth habit | growth height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yucca filamentosa | Thready yucca | southern USA | outdoors | yes (up to - 30 ºC) | stemless | without flowers up to about 0.6 meters |
| Yucca gloriosa | Candle Palm Lily | southern USA | outdoors | yes (up to - 25ºC) | tribe | up to three meters |
| Yucca baccata | Blue Yucca | Southern USA, Mexico | outdoors | yes (up to - 30ºC) | stemless or short stem | up to a meter |
| Yucca rostrata | Big Bend Yucca | Texas (USA), Mexico | outdoors | yes (up to - 20ºC) | tribe | up to five meters |
| Yucca thompsoniana | - | Texas (USA), Mexico | outdoors | yes (up to - 20ºC) | tribe | up to three meters |
| Yucca elephantipes | Giant palm lily | Mexico | indoors | no | tribe | up to 12 meters (outdoors) |
| Yucca brevifolia | joshua tree | Southern USA, Mexico | indoors | no | tribe | up to 15 meters (outdoors) |
| Yucca glauca | Blue-green yucca | southern USA | outdoors | yes (up to - 35 °C) | stemless or with a short stem | up to 1.5 meters |
| Yucca recurvifolia | - | southern USA | outdoors | yes (up to - 25 °C) | tribe | up to three meters |
Yuccas are not palm trees
The pretty and easy-care plants are often sold under the name "yucca palm", although this name is incorrect - the various yuccas do not belong to the palm family, despite all the external similarities. Instead, the popular ornamental plants are related to the no less popular vegetable asparagus - yuccas belong to the asparagus family and to the subfamily of the agave family. Palm lilies are found exclusively in Central America, but grow there in different climate zones.
tips
Since yuccas are not palm trees, you can safely prune them radically. In contrast to palm trees, palm lilies are very tolerant of pruning.