Adam's Needle

• Common Name: Adam's Needle
  
• Scientific Name: Yucca filamentosa
  
• Family Name: Asparagaceae
  
• Origin: Southeastern United States
  
• Height: Up to 10 ft
  
• Width: 3 to 4 ft
• Growth: Moderate
  
• Zone: USDA Zones 8 through 10
  
• Light needs: Full sun to part shade
  
• Salt tolerance: Moderate - tolerant of salt spray and occasional saltwater inundation
  
• Soil/pH/Texture: Prefers well-drained, sandy soil with an acidic to neutral pH (5.0-7.0)
  
• Moisture: No supplemental watering is needed once established. Sensitive to overwatering and flooding.
  
• Drought tolerance: High
  
• Pests/Diseases: Stem and root rot.
  
• Growing conditions: Grow this plant in a warm, dry, elevated area which is not prone to flooding. It is highly drought and heat tolerant and will not need any supplemental water once established.
  
• Characteristics: Leaves are thick, stemless, sessile, and grow in a basal rosette formation. Leaf shape is linear with a sharp apex. White, thread-like fibers curl off of the leaf margins. The cream-white, bell-shaped flowers emerge on 5-6 ft tall panicles from the center of the rosette. The fruit is a green, oblong capsule.
  
• Propagation: By seeds or by cuttings.
  
• Wildlife: This plant is exclusively pollinated by Yucca moths. Other moth species use it as a host plant for their larvae.
  
• Facts: The fruit can be cooked and eaten after seeds are removed, and the flower petals can be eaten in salad.
  
• Designer considerations: Good border or foundation plant for xeric or rock gardens.
  

Adam's Needle

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