Yuccas appropriately used in a garden give a feel of the plains or desert, much as rhododendrons would remind one of the Northwest forest, spruce trees of the Rocky Mountains, magnolias of the South or flowering cherries of Washington, D.C.
Yuccas must be carefully used in a garden, for they are accustomed to dominating the area where they grow, and do not like to be tucked in among other, unrelated plants.
Yuccas should have a well drained, hot spot where they can feel at home. Often just one plant may dominate a steep hot corner, or in connection with a well designed rock garden they are very effective. Sometimes formal lines of yucca plants will give the effect of soldiers marching with drawn bayonets.
Yuccas are in the lily family, as will be readily seen when their beautiful stalk of bloom opens. This is their real glory, but later their seed stalk is quite interesting and the fact that they are evergreen makes them attractive the whole year through.
Yuccas have adapted themselves to the severe environment which they have chosen. The leaves are narrow to reduce evaporation. The stiff, sharp leaves repel grazing animals, and the deep roots store up moisture from the infrequent rains sufficient to support them for many months.
The most common yucca found in cultivation is Yucca filamentosa. This is rather easy to transplant because it has its fleshy roots close underground. The common yucca of the Colorado plains, Y. glauca (angustifolia is another name) has its fleshy roots several feet deep and connected with the surface leaves with a rope-like root. As we go southwest from Colorado we find many other yuccas; the tiny Y. Harrimaniae, the Indian banana, Y. baccata and several others less common. Going on southwest we find the yuccas gradually becoming more tree-like until we find the very large and picturesque Joshua tree of the California desert.
The yucca was an important plant to the cliff dwellers. These peoples used the fibers for cordage, the leaves for needle and thread, and the roots for soap to wash their hair and blankets.
Yuccas are distinctive and different primitive as were the Indians who used them. They should be used carefully in a garden to be most effective. Give them plenty of room, a warm sunny location and a site which they may dominate.
