Hesperoyucca whipplei

RHS Plant Profile

Our Lord's candle

RHS

Other common names

Chaparral yucca, Spanish bayonet

Synonyms

Yucca whipplei subsp. parishii
Yucca whipplei subsp. whipplei
Yucca whipplei subsp. percursa
Yucca peninsularis
Yucca whipplei
Yucca whipplei subsp. intermedia
Yucca whipplei subsp. eremica
Yucca whipplei subsp. caespitosa

Shrubs

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produces a dense, dome-shaped rosette of narrow, spine-tipped, grey-blue, evergreen leaves, to about 1m. Mature plants produce massive flower spikes, potentially to 5m though usually less in gardens. These comprise a stout stem with masses of scented, hanging, bell-shaped, ivory flowers in late summer. Flowers and stem may be flushed with reddish-purple

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 5–10 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asparagaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Tufted
Genus
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: California to Mexico

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow outdoors in any well-drained soil in full sun. See yucca cultivation for further advice. See yucca cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed or remove rooted suckers

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required. The rosette dies after flowering, and should be carefully cut away, but is usually replaced by one or more offsets

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids on flower spikes

Diseases

May be susceptible to yucca leaf spot