Soaptree Yucca
Yucca elata
A treelike native yucca that depends on the tiny yucca moth for pollination, creating a timeless desert silhouette.
Very cold hardy into the single digits °F, USDA 9-11; native across low and mid-elevation Southwest desert.
AMWUA Notes
Native and extremely drought tolerant yucca needing no irrigation once established.
Care Guide
Established plants need little to no irrigation; water a young plant monthly its first summer, then rely on rainfall.
Remove dead lower leaves; a natural skirt of old leaves can be left or trimmed for a cleaner trunk.
Not necessary in native soil.
Yucca-weevil borers are rare; generally very tough and pest-free.
Very cold hardy into the single digits °F and heat-loving; white flower clusters depend on the yucca moth for pollination.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Fast-draining sandy or decomposed-granite desert soil; lean
Needs sharp, fast-draining soil.
None — thrives in lean desert soil without fertilizer.
Seed (offsets uncommon)
8-10 ft
Non-invasive roots; stiff sharp leaf tips, so set back from walkways
Placement Tips
- •Feature as a treelike specimen or vertical accent with room for a 10 ft spread.
- •The stiff leaf tips are sharp, so set back from walkways.
- •Plant in fast-draining soil in full sun.
- •Site where the tall silhouette can be appreciated.
Features
Best Uses
Ecological Value
Attracts
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
Love Soaptree 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 Soaptree Yucca. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.