Red yucca is a member of the asparagus family (Asparagaceae) and is native to the deserts of Texas and northeastern Mexico. The species epithet is Latin for "small flowered." It thrives in hot, desert conditions and is easily grown in well-drained sand, loam, caliche, and limestone soils in full sun. Superior soil drainage is essential to growing this plant. It is heat and drought tolerant and is a favorite of hummingbirds with its red, tubular flowers. In cooler winter climates, flowering occurs during the summer into fall, but in warm winter climates, flowering will occur nearly year-round. The arching, narrow, green leaves are evergreen and attractive, with fine, curling threads on the margins Use this plant in rock gardens and desert gardens. It can also be planted in large containers. Problems: Fungal root rots in damp, heavy soils. Potential for scale and aphids. Deer will browse the plant.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Clumping; Spreading
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Linear
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The blue-green evergreen leaves grow in a basal clump and are 2-3 feet long and 1 inch wide. They become purple or reddish-brown in cold winter climates. Leaves have numerous white filament hairs on margins
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Pink; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower form
Panicle; Spike
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Red, pink or coral tubular flowers grow on 4-6 foot red stalks. The centers are yellow.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Black
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Woody capsule
Stem color
Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Red flower stalks
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Texas, Mexico and Coahuila
Distribution
Central Texas south to Coahuila in northern Mexico
Wildlife value
Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Attracts
Butterflies; Hummingbirds
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Coastal; Container
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden