Yucca Filamentosa Bright Edge Needle Palm

Yucca Filamentosa Bright Edge (or Needle Palm) is an RHS AGM winning small evergreen tropical palm with sharp long strap-like leaves and creamy-white flowers in late summer. It suits tropical style Mediterranean gardens, sun-soaked borders, and sunny containers.

Yuccas are native to the southwestern United States and Mexico where they grow in desert-like arid environments. Yucca Filamentosa is native to the southeastern United States and is often called Needle Palm or Adam’s Needle. The Bright Edge cultivar is named for its wide and bright yellow variegated leaf margins that form a thick stripe along its 60 cm long sword-shaped leaves. This clump of foliage is sharp and pointed, so it can prick skin.

In late summer, panicles of nodding creamy-white bell-shaped flowers appear on 1.5 metre tall stems. Bees love its flowers, so the RHS has also awarded it the Plants for Pollinators badge.

This is an architectural choice for hot sunny borders and tropical style gardens but care should be taken around children and pets.

Height and Spread of Yucca Filamentosa Bright Edge
Needle Palm Bright Edge reaches a maximum height of 50 centimetres and spreads over 1.5 metres. Its flower spikes can reach 1.5 metres in height.

How Hardy is Yucca Filamentosa Bright Edge
Needle Palm Bright Edge is hardy in most of the UK down to freezing temperatures if it has well drained roots. Once established, it is especially drought resistant and it tolerates salty coastal areas.

How To Use Yucca Filamentosa Bright Edge
Fill up a hot border with rows of this yucca, use them in an urban sun-drenched front garden, or plant up in a well watered container to fill a balcony with shape and visiting pollinators.
Needle Palm Bright Edge is popular in Mediterranean and tropical style gardens. It’s a low maintenance but eye-catching way to fill a south-facing space.

How To Care For Yucca Filamentosa Bright Edge
This compact yucca needs well drained soil and full sun. It will tolerate partial shade bt will struggle to flower there. Any type of well-drained soil is suitable including sand and chalk.
Pruning isn’t required, but you can remove damaged foliage or spent flower spikes in spring before the new growth arrives.
Water well until you see new growth and apply a thick layer of mulch to the roots in late summer to protect it from the winter rain. Container grown yucca should always be left on raised feet to ensure good drainage.