Yucca elephantipes

This is the friendly yucca. It has the classic long pointed green leaves growing from a central point, but without the viciously sharp pointy ends wielded by many others of its species. 

It is native to Mexico and Central America where it’s a big, multi trunked, multi headed plant that can grow up to 12m in height. The flowers are a creamy white and ‘izote’ are often used in El Salvadoran cuisine, while the crushed roots are used to make soap. 

It is not frost hardy and is usually offered as a house plant.  It is undemanding although, as with all houseplants, it’s worth taking a bit of trouble over getting the right light levels and position. Site it in bright but indirect light as full sun through glass can scorch the leaves, but equally if the foliage starts getting drawn and leggy, it may be in too much shade. It may come from hot climates, but it won’t appreciate sitting by a radiator.  

Dust the leaves, water the plant only when the top couple of centimetres of soil have dried out and it will live happily with you for many years.  

If in the fullness of time it should grow too tall, it can be decapitated and regenerated, though it is worth a phone call to us before taking such drastic action!