A spineless yucca, the indoor yucca grown on a thick woody cane with rosettes of long strap-shaped leaves on top.

Yucca elephantipes comes from Mexico and Central America and reaches around 1.5 to 2m indoors over a good many years. The shape is the reason to buy it: a bare woody stem carrying arching mid-green leaves, giving height and structure to a corner without spreading much. Unlike the garden yuccas, the leaf tips on this one are soft rather than sharp.

Give it the brightest position you have, out of long spells of harsh direct sun, and it will be perfectly happy. Water when the top few centimetres of compost have dried and cut right back in winter; it stores water and copes far better with being forgotten than with being overwatered. Ordinary room temperature suits it, roughly 10C to 27C, and it tolerates dry air, so it never needs misting. Feed once a month in spring and summer. Repot in spring when the roots fill the pot, using a well-drained compost. If it grows too tall, the cane can be cut back in spring and will reshoot.

Supplied as one established plant with a 2 litre root ball, ready to pot into a container of your own. Yucca is harmful to dogs and cats if eaten, so keep it out of their reach.

Cultural Information

Common Name: Spineless yucca, yucca cane

Fully Grown Height and Spread: 1.5 to 2m x 60 to 90cm indoors

Growth Habit: Upright and tree like, on a thick woody cane with terminal leaf rosettes

Perfect For: Living rooms, hallways, conservatories, offices and bright bedrooms

Foliage: Long, sword-shaped, mid-green leaves with soft tips

Flowering Time: Grown for foliage; it does not flower indoors

Planting Position: Bright light indoors, out of harsh direct sun

Soil Type: Well-drained, free-draining compost

Hardiness: Tender, indoor only in Britain; keep above 5C

Maintenance: Easy; water sparingly and give it light

Seasonal Interest: Evergreen foliage all year

Type: Evergreen architectural houseplant, supplied in a 2L pot