Banana Yucca
Yucca baccata
A rugged native yucca bearing dramatic white blooms and fleshy banana-shaped fruit once prized by indigenous peoples.
Very cold hardy into the single digits °F, USDA 9-11; a low- and mid-desert Southwest native.
AMWUA Notes
Native and extremely drought tolerant; edible-fruited and needs no irrigation once established.
Care Guide
Established plants need little to no water; water a young plant monthly its first summer only.
Remove dead outer leaves and spent flower stalks; leave the low rosette otherwise untouched.
Not necessary in native soil.
Very tough and essentially pest-free.
Very cold hardy into the single digits °F; white spring blooms rely on the yucca moth and give way to edible banana-shaped fruit.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Fast-draining decomposed granite or rocky desert soil; lean
Needs sharp, fast-draining soil.
None — thrives in lean desert soil without fertilizer.
Seed or division of offsets
4 ft
Non-invasive roots; stiff sword-like leaves end in sharp tips, so keep off walkways
Placement Tips
- •Use in native, edible or specimen plantings.
- •The stiff sword-like leaves end in sharp tips, so keep off walkways and away from children.
- •Give it 4 ft of room.
- •Plant in fast-draining granite.
Features
Best Uses
Ecological Value
Attracts
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
Love Banana Yucca? Our landscape team sources from wholesale nurseries and can incorporate it into your design.
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Use this care guide to maintain your Banana Yucca. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.
Banana Yucca — common questions
Answers for low-desert Phoenix conditions, drawn from this plant’s growing data.
How much water does Banana Yucca need in Phoenix?
Banana Yucca is a very low-water accent plant once established. Established plants need little to no water; water a young plant monthly its first summer only. Native and extremely drought tolerant; edible-fruited and needs no irrigation once established.
How big does Banana Yucca get?
Expect roughly 4 ft tall and 4 ft wide at maturity, with a slow growth rate. Allow about 4 ft of spacing when planting. Non-invasive roots; stiff sword-like leaves end in sharp tips, so keep off walkways.
Can you plant Banana Yucca near a pool?
Not ideally. Banana Yucca is not rated pool-friendly, so it is better placed away from the pool deck and skimmer. Litter is rated low.
Can Banana Yucca handle Arizona heat and winter frost?
Banana Yucca is hardy in USDA 9-11 and wants full sun. Very cold hardy into the single digits °F, USDA 9-11; a low- and mid-desert Southwest native. Very cold hardy into the single digits °F; white spring blooms rely on the yucca moth and give way to edible banana-shaped fruit.
Does Banana Yucca have thorns?
Yes — Banana Yucca has small thorns. Site it back from walkways, seating and pool decks where people brush past.
Is Banana Yucca safe around pets?
Banana Yucca is listed as pet-friendly in this guide. If your dog is a determined chewer, check any new plant with your vet before planting.
When does Banana Yucca bloom in Arizona?
Banana Yucca blooms in late spring, with white flowers. The bloom draws yucca moths.
How much maintenance does Banana Yucca need?
Banana Yucca is low-maintenance. Leaf, flower and pod litter is rated low. Remove dead outer leaves and spent flower stalks; leave the low rosette otherwise untouched.
What kind of soil does Banana Yucca need?
Fast-draining decomposed granite or rocky desert soil; lean. It needs no supplemental feeding. Not necessary in native soil.
Is Banana Yucca native to Arizona?
Yes. Banana Yucca is native to Arizona and to the Southwestern US and Northern Mexico, so it is adapted to local rainfall, soil and heat.