Spanish Dagger Plant Info

  • Evergreen perennial, shrub
  • Hardiness: USDA zones 7 to 11
  • Full Grown Size: Up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) tall and 5 feet (1.5 meters) wide
  • Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
  • Maintenance: Occasional pruning to remove dead or damaged leaves and flower stalks

Spanish dagger is a stunning plant that adds character to any garden. It’s a type of yucca, a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae. It has long, stiff, sword-like green or variegated leaves with yellow or white margins. In summer, the plant produces tall spikes of creamy white blossoms, attracting pollinators and birds. The plant is low maintenance and drought tolerant, making it and easy to grow and care for.

Yucca gloriosa
Spanish dagger
Spanish bayonet
Aloe yucca
Mound-lily yucca
Variegata
Bright Star
Lone Star
Walbristar
White or cream-colored flowers

Water

Spanish dagger adapts well to dry conditions, so it does not need much water. Water it once a week during the growing season (spring to summer) and once a month during the dormant season (winter).

Sunlight

The plant prefers well-drained sandy or rocky soil. It can grow in poor soil with low fertility and low pH too. To improve drainage, add sand, gravel, or pumice to the soil. It can grow in partial shade, but it may not flower well.

Soil

The plant prefers well-drained sandy or rocky soil. It can grow in poor soil with low fertility and pH too.

Fertilizer

It can benefit from a light application of balanced fertilizer once a year in spring before flowering. Avoid overfertilizing, this can cause excessive growth and weak stems.

Pruning

Remove dead or damaged leaves and flower stalks ideally in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. Wear gloves to avoid getting injured by the sharp leaves.

Propagation

Collect the seeds from the ripe fruit capsules in fall and sow in spring in pots filled with well-drained soil mix. Keep the container in a warm area and make sure the soil is moist.

You can also cut off the suckers (young shoots growing from the base of the trunk or branches) and plant them in pots filled with well-defined soil mix.

Thrives in

In full sun and well-drained soil; outdoors is best

Toxicity

Spanish dagger is toxic to humans and pets if ingested. It contains saponins, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and liver damage.

Pests & Diseases

Spanish dagger is generally pest and disease resistant, but it can be affected by:
Scale insects
Spider mites
Yucca moth larvae
Leaf spot
Root rot
Fungal infections

Landscaping Ideas

Specimen plant
Focal point
Border plant
Container plant
Hedging

Last Updated: August 21, 2023

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Author

Nonkululeko
Nonkululeko
I'm an enthusiastic gardener. I learned the art of growing my own food using sustainable gardening techniques from my father, which I still find effective for healthy plant growth. Gardening has become one of my best hobbies ever since I realized its benefits beyond growing my own food. Through experimenting and connecting with nature, I've found gardening to be a therapeutic and relaxing practice.

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