Buckley's yucca (Yucca constricta)
Care, watering, light and tips for Buckley's yucca on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Asparagaceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 14 days
- Light: Indirect light
- Temperature: 10–35 °C
- Toxicity: Toxic to pets
About Buckley's yucca
Yucca constricta, also known as Buckley's Yucca, is a slow-growing, medium-sized yucca species featuring thin, stiff leaves that form a basal rosette. Its gray-green leaves can grow up to 90 cm long, often with curly filaments along the margins. This plant is ideal for xeriscaping, desert landscaping, or as a focal point in large pots on sunny patios.
Native range
Southwestern United States (Texas) and northeastern Mexico
Care tips
It requires full sun for optimal growth and prefers very well-drained, sandy or rocky soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Watering should be sparse; it is crucial to allow the substrate to dry out completely between waterings, more frequently in summer and almost none in winter. A common mistake is overwatering, which can lead to root rot. It is a very drought-tolerant and cold-hardy plant once established.
How to save a dying Buckley's yucca
- Warning signs
- Soft, yellowing or browning leaves from base; soft or rotten stem.
- First aid
- Remove dead leaves, check roots for rot. If present, cut and apply fungicide. Repot in dry soil.
- What kills it
- Overwatering, especially in winter or low light. Prefers dryness.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if rot hasn't advanced much into the trunk. Act fast!