A Yucca, also known as a Spanish Dagger or Adam’s Needle, brings a gorgeous desert-chic or tropical vibe to any garden or balcony. But that magic can fade pretty fast if they aren’t tucked in properly for the winter. The big thing to remember? Not every species is built for the cold.
Winter Care
The secret to overwintering your Yucca successfully depends entirely on the specific variety you have. Generally, they fall into three categories:
- Not frost-hardy at all
- Semi-hardy (needs a little help)
- Extremely cold-hardy
Another pro-tip: how you grow them matters. Most frost-hardiness ratings apply to plants settled in the ground. If your Yucca is living the “pot life” on your patio, it’s much more vulnerable to the cold. Potted Yuccas lose a lot of their natural insulation, so they’ll almost always need extra protection or a spot indoors when the temperature drops.
Non-Frost-Hardy Yuccas
The popular *Yucca elephantipes* (Spineless Yucca) is the main one to watch out for—it definitely doesn’t like the cold. You might see some sources claim it can handle temperatures down to 18°F (-8°C), but that’s rarely true for a potted plant. To play it safe, bring your Spineless Yucca inside once the thermometer hits the low 40s. Don’t move it back out until the threat of late spring frost has totally passed.
Semi-Hardy Yuccas
Semi-hardy Yuccas are the “tough-ish” ones that can handle dips between -4°F and 14°F (-10 to -20°C). Depending on your local climate, these can stay outside, though I usually recommend bringing potted versions into a garage or shed. Some common varieties include:
- Yucca aloifolia (Aloe Yucca): Hardy down to 10°F (-12°C)
- Yucca brevifolia (Joshua Tree): Hardy down to -2°F (-19°C)
- Yucca rostrata (Beaked Yucca) and Yucca thompsoniana (Thompson’s Yucca): Hardy down to -4°F (-20°C)
- Yucca schidigera (Mojave Yucca): Hardy down to 14°F (-10°C)
Extremely Cold-Hardy Yuccas
If you live somewhere where the winters get seriously brutal (we’re talking below -4°F), you’ll want to stick to these heavy hitters for your landscaping. These varieties are built for the deep freeze:
- Yucca baccata (Banana Yucca), Yucca flaccida (Weak-Leaf Yucca), Yucca gloriosa (Moundlily Yucca), and Yucca recurvifolia (Curve-leaf Yucca): Hardy down to -13°F (-25°C)
- Yucca filamentosa (Adam’s Needle): Hardy down to -18°F (-28°C)
- Yucca glauca (Soapweed Yucca): Hardy down to a bone-chilling -31°F (-35°C)
The Moisture Factor
It’s not just the frost and cold you have to worry about—winter dampness is actually the silent killer for many Yuccas. The extremely hardy species mentioned above can usually handle wet soil just fine once they are established in the ground.
However, semi-hardy Yuccas hate “wet feet” in the winter. If yours is in a pot, move it under a roof overhang or a porch to keep the rain off. For plants in the ground, some gardeners use a translucent umbrella or a DIY rain cover attached to the trunk to keep the crown dry.
And remember: even if your Yucca is spending the winter inside your cozy house, too much water is still a no-no. Make sure to cut back on watering significantly while the plant is in its winter dormancy.
