Yucca filamentosa ‘Colour Guard’, also known as Adam’s Needle, is a tough and architectural evergreen perennial that provides year-round colour and structure. It forms a rosette of rigid, sword-shaped leaves that are a vibrant creamy-yellow in the centre with dark green edges. A unique feature of this cultivar is that the central yellow stripe takes on a beautiful rose or coral blush during the cooler months of autumn and winter, adding a welcome splash of warmth to the garden. In summer, mature plants produce a spectacular tall spike of nodding, bell-shaped, creamy-white flowers.
General Care & Usage Tips
- Position: This plant is incredibly hardy and loves a full sun position. It will tolerate a little bit of shade, but the foliage colour will be most vibrant with at least six hours of direct sunlight a day.
- Soil: The most important thing is well-draining soil. It’s not fussy about soil type and will grow in poor, sandy, or rocky soils, as long as it’s not waterlogged.
- Watering: It is very drought-tolerant once established. Water sparingly and only when the soil is completely dry to the touch. Overwatering is the main cause of problems like root rot.
- Fertiliser: Generally, it doesn’t need much fertiliser. You can apply a slow-release, low-nitrogen fertiliser in spring to give it a boost, but it’s not essential.
- Pruning: Low maintenance is key here. Simply remove any dead, brown, or damaged lower leaves by cutting them as close to the base as possible to keep the plant looking tidy. After flowering, you can cut the flower stalk back to the base.
- Caring Tips:
- The sharp-tipped leaves can be a hazard, so plant it away from high-traffic areas like pathways or play areas.
- This plant is deer and rabbit resistant, making it a great choice for country gardens.
- It’s an excellent choice for rockeries, coastal gardens, dry slopes, and large containers. It pairs well with other drought-tolerant plants.
- While tough, be careful not to overwater, especially in winter. It prefers to be on the drier side.
- It can form a clump over time by producing offsets (or pups) which can be divided and replanted.
