Yucca Pendula

The Yucca Pendula, scientifically known as Yucca recurvifolia (often listed with Yucca pendula as a synonym), is a graceful and highly adaptable evergreen shrub or small tree, renowned for its distinctive weeping foliage. Native to the southeastern United States, particularly along coastal plains and sandy areas from North Carolina to Florida and west to Louisiana and Mississippi, it thrives in warm temperate to subtropical climates. It is well-adapted to sandy, well-drained soils and can tolerate a wide range of conditions, including coastal exposure and drought once established. As a long-lived perennial, the Yucca Pendula can persist for several decades, often 20 years or more, forming attractive clumps or developing a stout, woody trunk.

Its most distinctive characteristic is its long, slender, sword-shaped leaves that are a beautiful blue-green to grayish-green color. Unlike many rigid yuccas, the leaves of Yucca recurvifolia are notably flexible and gracefully arch downwards or “weep,” creating a soft, fountain-like appearance. While the leaf tips are sharp, the overall effect is much less formidable than other yucca species. Over time, it can develop a single or multiple woody stems, eventually reaching heights of 6-10 feet with a similar spread. In late spring through summer, mature Yucca Pendula plants produce a tall, erect flower stalk, typically 3-6 feet high, emerging from the center of the rosette. This impressive inflorescence is adorned with numerous large, creamy-white to yellowish-white, bell-shaped flowers that often have a purplish tinge. These fragrant blooms attract night-flying moths. The Yucca Pendula is an excellent choice for adding a touch of tropical flair, architectural form, and a fine texture to xeriscapes, rock gardens, borders, and as a bold focal point, particularly well-suited to the hot, dry climate of Phoenix, Arizona, where its drought tolerance, elegant form, and relatively low maintenance are highly valued.