How to Grow and Care for Adam's needle

Adam's needle, also known as Spanish Bayonet, Bear Grass, Needle Palm, Yucca, Filament Yucca

Adam's needle is a hardy perennial favored for its low maintenance and ability to thrive in tough conditions. Key care points include: full sun exposure is essential for optimal growth and its tolerance to poor, dry soils minimizes watering needs. Special attention should be given to avoid overwatering, as adam's needle is susceptible to root rot in soggy conditions.

Watering schedule: Every 2-3 weeks

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

Toxic to Pets

In This Article

Planting and Growing Adam's needle

Toughness	High
Care Level	Low
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every 2-3 weeks
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil Type	Garden Soil
Soil pH	5.5-7
Planting Time	Spring, Fall
Hardiness Zones	7-11
Toxicity	Toxic to Pets

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Varieties of Adam's needle

Adam's needle 'Color Guard'

Adam's needle 'Color Guard' is a variegated form of Adam's needle that has gold-centered leaves with green margins. The leaf margins are adorned with soft, curly white threads. It offers a show of fragrant snow-white blooms in summer. This is a cultivar of Yucca filamentosa and makes for a great way to add evergreen interest to winter gardens and rock gardens.

Adam's needle 'Variegata'

Adam's needle 'Variegata' is a yucca cultivar selected for its dramatic coloring, and is also known as ‘Color Guard.’ The leaves are broad and striped with yellow, and in the winter can have pinkish edges. The white flowers appear on a long stalk. These appealing visual contrasts, as well as the cultivar’s resistance to pests, diseases, rabbits and deer, make it a popular choice.

Adam's needle 'Bright Edge'

Adam's needle 'Bright Edge' is an Adam's needle cultivar, noted for its attractive panicles of creamy white flowers and sword-shaped, dark green leaves with bright gold edges. Smaller than its parent plant, this cultivar is often used in gardens as an accent plant.

Adam's needle 'Excalibur'

Named after the legendary sword that King Arthur pulled from the stone adam's needle 'Excalibur' is an Adams needle, or yucca. This cultivar has unusually pronounced and extended white filaments or threads growing from the edges of its blue-gray blade-shaped leaves. This cultivar grows to a height of 1.5 m, which is much shorter than the parent plant.

Common Pests & Diseases

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The Toxicity of Adam's needle

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More General Info About Adam's needle

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Quickly Identify Adam's needle

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Adam's needle displays a distinctive, mounded clump of sword-shaped, bluish-green leaves that possess curled fibers along their margins, giving it a unique texture. This evergreen shrub can reach heights of 3 to 8 feet (0.9 to 2.4 meters) and spread 3 to 5 feet (0.9 to 1.5 meters) wide. The leaves are not only tough and leathery but also end in a sharp point. Adam's needle's statuesque form makes it a striking addition to any garden landscape.