Soaptree Yucca
Yucca elata
Last reviewed: September 2026
Yucca elata is a succulent with a rosette of narrow blue green leaves atop a tall trunk. It blooms from March to May with white flower clusters and does best in full sun with low water.

Toxicity unknown
Soaptree Yucca (Yucca elata) 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.
The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Soaptree Yucca as toxic to livestock.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
36"–48" H × 24"–48" W
Bloom
Mar, Apr, May
Native to
AZ, NM, TX
Pollinators
moths
Before you buy
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Soaptree Yucca is a striking architectural succulent with sword-like blue-green leaves arranged in a rosette pattern. In spring, it produces dramatic tall flower spikes with creamy white blooms that can reach several feet above the foliage.
Growing Soaptree Yucca
Grow Soaptree Yucca in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 36 to 48 inches tall and spread 24 to 48 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Soaptree Yucca takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Insufficient data for HOA assessment
Wildlife value
The fragrant white flowers attract night-flying moths and other pollinators during the spring blooming season.
Common questions
- When does Yucca elata bloom?
- Yucca elata blooms from March through May, sending up a tall flower stalk with clusters of white to cream colored blossoms.
- What pollinates Yucca elata?
- Yucca elata is pollinated by yucca moths, which lay their eggs in the flowers while transferring pollen, an obligate relationship between the plant and moth.
- How much water does Yucca elata need?
- Yucca elata tolerates low water conditions and prefers well drained soil, needing little to no supplemental irrigation once established.
- Is Yucca elata evergreen?
- Yes. Yucca elata keeps its stiff, narrow leaves year round, though older leaves droop and dry against the trunk over time, forming a thatched look.
- How much sun does Yucca elata need?
- Yucca elata grows best in full sun and can handle intense, direct light throughout the day, making it well suited to open, exposed sites.
- Is Soaptree Yucca toxic to livestock?
- The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Soaptree Yucca as toxic to livestock.
- Is Soaptree Yucca HOA-friendly?
- Soaptree Yucca takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
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 Soaptree Yucca? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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