Yucca rostrata is a single trunked species 2-5 m tall, branched specimens occur but are rare. Y.rostrata is found in north eastern Mexico and in western Texas. In the region north of Monclova and Quatro Cienegas in the State of Coahuile, Mexico all the way to the Big Bend Region in West Texas along the Rio Grande, Y.rostrata forms very heavy trunks with a small root part, barely wider than the trunk. The plants of this variation can grow up to 5-6 m. Separated from this large area, is the region of the Sabinas River in Nuevo Leon. Here Y.rostrata has significant thinner trunks with a remarkable wide woody ‘foot'. The plants are relatively shorter and smaller, the leaves are slightly less blue. It is widespread in the hills of Nuevo Leon north of Monterrey and even occurs in the isolated Sierra de Lampazos. At some places you find a green Y.rostrata variety. It seems to have hybridised with Y.thompsoniana. At other places Y. rostrata shares the habitat with other species like Y.rigida, and natural hybridisation occurs.

Y.rostrata prefers growing on shallow slopes or ridges of limestone in limestone gravel. It is one of the most beautiful desert yucca's, with its nearly spherical heads, formed by numerous long blue-green to blue-grey leaves of 40-70 cm long and 1-1,3 cm wide. The inflorescence is about 11 cm and the panicle is about 60 cm long and usually towers above the leaves. It has fleshy bright white flowers. The plant will withstand temperatures down to -15°C, when rooted out properly. Like all yucca's they like full sun and well-drained soils. Y.rostrata is most similar to Y.rigida, but the leaves of rigida are rigid and straight, and when in bloom the panicle of Y.rostrata is born above the leaves while the bloom of Y. rigida is hidden partially by the leaves.

In our private collection we have some unique rostrata form, like a Y.rostrata forma cristata and a Y.rostrata ‘variagata' both originating from our farm, as well as hybrids of Yucca rostrata with Y.elata and Y.rigida.

Like all yucca's they like sun and a well drained soil, in wet climates it is better to remove the panicle after a few weeks, as the flowers fall down in the crown and start rotting. The yucca is most vulnerable after flowering as the stalk leaves a hole through which rain water enters the hart which could lead to rot. When the old flower stalk has rotted away, it is better to seal the hole with cement; the new growing spears will push it aside.

In our webshop we have this yucca for sale.

Authors drs C.N. Klijn and R.H. Smeets from Tropical Centre have studied yuccas in the wild and also then thousands of import yucca plants from everywhere in Mexico and the USA. Learn more about yuccas and our yucca background through the website buttons about us, photo-albums and newsletters. If you mention us, as the source you may use our descriptions and pictures.