Jay

Yucca Elephantipes

Spineless yucca; Stick yucca; Yukka

• 
  Bright light
• 
  Easy care

• Jay likes...
  • 
    Light watering

    He’s drought tolerant, so forgiving of forgetful waterers. Ideally, water him when his top two inches of soil are dry.

  • 
    Bright light

    There’s really no such thing as too much light for this guy. Place him in the brightest spot available.

  • 
    Feeding

    A feed once per month in spring and summer will help him grow. He won’t need it in winter.

• Quick facts

  Botanical name

  Yucca elephantipes

  Nickname

  Spineless yucca; Stick yucca; Yukka

  Plant type

  Evergreen shrub, indoor

  Air purifying

  Yes

  Plant height (including pot)

  140-150cm

  Pet/baby safe

  Toxic to pets if ingested

  Nursery pot size

  24cm

• About yucca elephantipes

  Although it’s most likely to be found in the wild in Mexico or Central America, this particular yucca has been grown in Europe since the 1850s. It would have been prized by rich Victorians for its very exotic appearance. The more exotic your houseplants, the wealthier you looked.

  The ‘elephantipes’ part of the name is for the fact that the trunk of a mature yucca looks like an elephant’s foot. Fully grown, it can be as tall as six metres.

  It’s not difficult to grow as a houseplant, as long as you remember it’s used to hot, dry conditions. Do everything you can to remind it of its sunny home by giving it as much light as possible and being sparing on the water. It doesn’t like to stand in water. Which is where it differs from an elephant.

  Did you know?

  The yucca flower is the official flower of El Salvador. You probably won’t see flowers on a yucca grown indoors, so it’s a good excuse to go to El Salvador.