Big Bend Yucca

Full sun. Evergreen. A small, well-behaved tree-form yucca with a branching habit. Thin blue-gray leaves grow in a tight cluster atop the trunk, and later drape down to form a shaggy skirt.

This is a popular landscape specimen, used for a variety of purposes in both domestic and commercial landscapes — as the “Nordstrom’s Yucca” moniker suggests. It tolerates full sun and reflected heat, and makes an excellent choice for exposed rocky slopes. Panicles of white flowers attract migrating hummingbirds.

The leaves are flexible enough to use around pedestrians and children, but the rough edges can still deliver a mean paper cut; handle with care.