Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) - Red yucca, a versatile and tough native Texas succulent, was named the newest Texas Superstar plant. Red Yucca is a member of the century plant family and is native to the deserts of Texas and northeastern Mexico. It is also called: coral yucca, hummingbird yucca, pink yucca, soft-tip yucca, samadoque and redflower false yucca. Plant leaves are thicker than those of other yuccas, but more sword-shaped than aloe. Red yuccas’ dark green leaves arise from a slowly suckering clump forming a cluster of rosettes. Flowers are typically 4 - 5 inch pale pink spikes or narrow sparsely branched panicles of coral or salmon-pink. Rarely they are red or yellow, 1 - 2 inch tubular flowers with trumpet-shaped flared tips. They will often flower multiple times during the growing season.

It thrives in hot, dry desert conditions and is easily grown in well-drained sand, loam, caliche, and limestone soils. Red yucca is a sun-loving plant, but can survive in partial shade, though blooms will be reduced. The native plant resembles a cross between other common spine-pointed yuccas and aloe. 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. Use this plant in rock gardens and desert gardens. It can also be planted in large containers. They are also excellent pollinator support plants and an attractive addition to any pollinator garden.

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. Plants are very drought and heat tolerant once established. They also perform well in low fertility locations but will grow more vigorously where adequate nutrients are available.

It is an obvious choice for rock gardens and xeriscape landscaping. Red yucca makes a nice accent or small-scale groundcover beneath mesquite, paloverde or other trees with light filtered shade. The lack of sharp points on the leaves, hence its alternate name of soft-leaf yucca, makes red yucca suitable for use where pedestrian traffic may contact it.

Adam's Needle (Yucca filamentosa) - Although Yucca is a very drought tolerant plant, they are also completely winter hardy.  They are virtually stemless broadleaf evergreen shrubs that are native to beaches, sand dunes and fields from South Carolina down to Florida and Mississippi. Over time, they are now located across the U.S. These heat and drought tolerant plants and perfect for xersicape or natural landscaping where very low water needs are desired. Yucca can be planted for erosion control or even grown in containers, borders, or other dry garden areas.  Attractive for butterflies and other pollinators, but not attractive to deer and rabbits. 

A few other names for Yucca filamentosa is: Spanish bayonet, Yucca, and Needle Palm.  Suitable for seaside gardens or areas which receive road salt runoff. Leaves form a foliage clump to 2 - 3 feet tall. In late spring, a flowering stalk rises from the center of each rosette, typically to 5 - 8 feet tall, but infrequently even taller. Mature plants about four or five years old will send up large flower stalks from the center of the foliage in late spring or summer. These stalks can be as tall as 8 feet, and are topped with numerous bell-shaped, creamy white flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Adam's needle can be planted almost any time, though it is most commonly available at nurseries in the Spring.

Soapweed Yucca (Yucca glauca) - A tropical plant and member of the agave family, it has stiff, grey-green evergreen leaves which form 2 foot or greater clumps.  Usually in summer, 6 foot tall spikes topped with large white flowers rise high above the leaves. The flowers give way later in summer to woody, decorative seed pods that persist on the stems. It is a native to the southwestern US and grows best in dry rocky soil. Its natural habitat is dry rocky soils and often found in short grass prairies and desert grasslands. This variety of Yucca is among the most cold-hardy and landscape ready of the species. It is also very drought tolerant making it perfect for xeriscape landscaping.

A few other names for Yucca glauca are: Soapweed Yucca, Spanish Bayonet, Narrowleaf Yucca, Great Plains Yucca, Beargrass, Great Plains Yucca. An important plant for wildlife, it provides food and nesting for small mammals, birds, and reptiles. The flowers attract butterflies, but not deer or rabbits. It is a host plant for the Yucca Moth. This moth is the only insect that has success in pollinating the yucca flower and developing fruit and is the moths' only food source. Its roots are used to make soap. Crushed roots produce a lather that is great as a soap or shampoo; thus, the name Soapweed Yucca.

Dried leaves from this plant can be used to weave baskets, mats, and sandals. Rope is made from the extracted leaf fibers. Yucca can be propagated from seeds or stem cuttings, or rhizomes. In addition to putting on a showy display, the leaves have many practical uses. The leaves can be used to make paint brushes and brooms. After splitting the leaves, they can be used as a tying material. The needle-sharp points of the leaves have been used as needles.