Yucca filamentosa, commonly called Adam’s needle, Spanish bayonet, yucca and needle palm, is a virtually stemless broadleaf evergreen shrub that is native to beaches, sand dunes, and fields from South Carolina south to Florida and Mississippi. It has escaped cultivation and extended its original range north into New England. It features a basal rosette of rigid, sword-shaped, spine-tipped green leaves with long filamentous curly threads along the margins. Leaves form a foliage clump to 2-3’ tall. In late spring, a flowering stalk rises from the center of each rosette, typically to 5-8’ tall, but infrequently to 12’ tall, bearing long terminal panicles of nodding bell-shaped creamy white flowers. Fruits are elliptical dehiscent capsules. Will form a small colony over time from basal offsets.
Easily grown in light, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerant of poor, sandy soils, heat, drought, and salt spray. Surprising tolerance for some part shade. Can be propagated easily from basal offsets.
