Our lord's-candle
Hesperoyucca whipplei
Last reviewed: September 2026
Our lord's-candle (Hesperoyucca whipplei) is a perennial succulent native to CA. It blooms in April, May, and June. The flowers draw moths.
Toxicity unknown
Our lord's-candle (Hesperoyucca whipplei) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
24"–144" H × 36"–60" W
Bloom
Apr, May, Jun
Native to
CA
Pollinators
moths
Before you buy
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A rosette of stiff, sharply pointed silvery-green leaves, known as our lord's candle, that sends up a single towering flower spike densely packed with creamy white blossoms once in its life before the rosette dies.
Growing Our lord's-candle
Grow Our lord's-candle in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 24 to 144 inches tall and spread 36 to 60 inches wide.
Wildlife value
Host plant for yucca moth.
Entirely dependent on yucca moths for pollination, a classic obligate mutualism where the moth larvae feed on some of the developing seeds in exchange.
Common questions
- How much sun does Our lord's-candle need?
- Our lord's-candle grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Our lord's-candle bloom?
- Our lord's-candle blooms in April, May, and June.
- Where is Our lord's-candle native?
- Our lord's-candle (Hesperoyucca whipplei) is native to CA, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- What butterflies or moths does Our lord's-candle host?
- Our lord's-candle is a larval host plant for yucca moth.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Our lord's-candle? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.