Tough as nails, yuccas are the ideal plant for a no-maintenance garden. Their sword-like foliage radiates upward from a central crown, remaining upright all year round except in the heaviest snows. It combines nicely with all kinds of mounded foliage plants. 'Color Guard' bears bright creamy-yellow leaves with green edges. During the cooler months of fall and winter, the light leaf centers take on rose overtones.
From early to midsummer, spectacular sturdy flower stalks rise 3-4 feet tall from the center of the plant. The individual bell-shaped, creamy white flowers are 2-3 inches long and dangle from the stems like earrings.
Yucca should be planted in full sun, in any well-drained soil, and it grows well even in poor and sandy soils. It thrives in coastal areas, growing in almost pure sand and resisting salt-spray too. This is the hardiest of the yuccas, growing even in zone 4. It is normally free of pest and diseases and left alone by deer. Water regularly during the first growing season, but after that it is completely drought-proof, even in prolonged droughts and sandy soil. For low-maintenance gardening and striking beauty it simply cannot be beaten.