Yucca filamentosa 'COLOR GUARD'

Color Guard is another variegated Adam’s needle. It is a tough and beautiful variety. Its sword-like are medium soft, definitely not sharp as those of yucca gloriosa, deep green at margins and butter yellow to rich yellow in the centre. Between these two colour appear soft green highlights. From autumn till spring yellow colour on older leaves is substituted with orange and salmon red. In second half of June it produces numerous creamy-white, bell-shaped flowers on sturdy stems, up to 160 cm tall. When in full bloom it looks like a giant lily-of-the-valley. It is suggested to remove the entire stems right after flowering.

Yucca looks great if we let it show its architectural character. Thanks to its grass-like appearance it will combine easily with compact conifers and other evergreen shrubs with leathery leaves of various shapes and sizes. Its tropical accent will be of use in exotic-styled landscapes, and can be enhanced by mulching with white or light grey gravel and stones around.

Adam’s needle is not fussy about soil type provided it is well-drained. We tried planting it in partially wet site where it does surprisingly well seldom flowers. Grow it in full sun and expect it to expand by making young plants near mother plant. Unwanted plants can be easily removed and transplanted in spring or autumn. Even though it comes from sough USA it is very hardy and withstands -34°C (USDA zone 4).

Last update 18-02-2018

TIPS for luxurious care:

Remove individual spent flowers as soon as possible. They may deface the plant, especially in rainy weather when they tend to rot soon. Remove any old, ill-looking leaves after winter leaving only stiff, healthy leaves for a great looking plant. The mother plant is slowly dying after flowering, remove it completely at the roots, leaving its young nursling around that will become strong adults capable of flowering more quickly.