Spanish dagger (Yucca gloriosa)
Spanish dagger (Yucca gloriosa) is a shrub that can grow 1.5m – 3m tall and 1.5m – 3m wide. In this growing guide we’ll learn the cultivation details and how to plant Spanish dagger (Yucca gloriosa).
This plant has several common names including: Spanish dagger, Adam’s needle, Lord’s candlestick, mound lily, palm lily, Roman candle or tree lily.
This is a evergreen plant that takes 10-20 years to reach full maturity.
In this article
Plant profile
Common name: Spanish dagger, Adam’s needle, Lord’s candlestick, mound lily, palm lily, Roman candle, tree lily
Scientific name: Yucca gloriosa
Plant type: Shrubs
Habit: Bushy
Height: 1.5m – 3m
Spread: 1.5m – 3m
Foliage: Evergreen
Sunlight: Full Sun
Soil: Chalk, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Well drained
Garden type: Architectural, City & Courtyard Gardens, Coastal, Informal Garden, Mediterranean Garden
Planting type: Flower borders and bedding
Other characteristics: RHS Award of Garden Merit
Seasonal colors
| Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
How to plant Spanish dagger (Yucca gloriosa) – Dalgial, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Shrubs are fundamental elements in any garden.
They add color and interest throughout the seasons with their wide variety of flowers, foliage, fruits, trunks and stems.
Whatever the size or style of your garden, the permanent woody structure or the foliage of evergreen shrubs will give the space shape and dimension.
Other types of Yucca to consider:
See all Yucca
How to plant
In this section we will learn how to plant Spanish dagger (Yucca gloriosa), know its needs in terms of soil, watering and sun exposure.
Soil
Spanish dagger (Yucca gloriosa) is not a demanding plant regarding the type of soil and can grow in chalk, loam or sand.
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The chalky soil is pale and contains chunks of calcium-rich rock. It is a fertile and well-draining soil, almost always alkaline.
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The loam soil is dark, rich in organic matter but balanced in minerals. It offers the best of all worlds, retaining enough water for the plants, but allowing excess moisture to drain away. This is the most desired type of garden soil, perfect for most plants.
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Sandy soil is light, porous and very easy to drain. It is a soil poor in organic matter and nutrients. It is composed of relatively large mineral particles that allow water to drain quickly.
It is not very sensitive to soil acidity or alkalinity and grows well in soils with pH acid, alkaline or neutral.
Regarding drainage, Yucca gloriosa likes to grow in well drained soil.
Sunlight
Spanish dagger (Yucca gloriosa) should be grown in full sun places.
Cultivation profiles – Growing Spanish dagger (Yucca gloriosa) – SABENCIA Guillermo César Ruiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
