What: Yucca filamentosa “Bright Edge” is grown for its architectural quality, as its striped, sharp-tipped, sword-shaped leaves stand out in any border or as a specimen container plant. Add to that a flower spike that can reach 6 feet or taller, carrying dozens of pendulous, cream-colored flowers in summer, and you have a real showstopper. “Bright Edge” variegated yucca is much smaller-growing than the species, and its blue-green leaves have a thin margin of bright yellow. In addition, the leaf margins have curly white threads, giving the plant its specific epithet of filamentosa. Yuccas are also extremely easy to grow and drought and heat tolerant.
Where: Yuccas adapt well to most garden soils. This plant prefers a well-drained or sandy soil but is tolerant of clay and is very drought tolerant once established. The best growth and flowering occur in full sun. Although it will tolerate light or open shade, it is less likely to flower.
Size: This vase-shaped shrub grows to be 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide when mature.
Care: Once established, yearly removal of the oldest, dead or damaged leaves in the fall or winter is recommended. The rosettes of foliage that flower will die after the bloom fades, but new side pups quickly re-sprout to form new plants.
— Richie Steffen, Great Plant Picks
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