How much sun does Adam's-needle need?

Adam's-needle grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Adam's-needle bloom?

Adam's-needle blooms in June and July.

Where is Adam's-needle native?

Adam's-needle (Yucca flaccida) is native to AL, AR, FL, GA and 17 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).

What butterflies or moths does Adam's-needle host?

Adam's-needle is a larval host plant for yucca moth.

Adam's-needle

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Yucca flaccida

Last reviewed: October 2026

Adam's-needle (Yucca flaccida) is a perennial succulent native to AL, AR, FL, GA and 17 more states. It blooms in June and July. The flowers draw moths.

Toxicity unknown

Adam's-needle (Yucca flaccida) 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

12"–36" H × 24"–48" W

Bloom

Jun, Jul

Native to

AL, AR, FL, GA and 17 more states

Pollinators

moths

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 460 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

East Central Texas Plains Western Gulf Coastal Plain South Central Plains Eastern Temperate Forests Ozark Highlands Central Irregular Plains Piedmont Driftless Area Eastern Corn Belt Plains Southern Michigan/Northern Indiana Drift Plains Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Piedmont Southeastern Plains Blue Ridge Ridge and Valley Interior Plateau Interior River Valleys and Hills Mississippi Valley Loess Plains Southern Coastal Plain

A compact yucca called weak-leaf yucca, with a rosette of narrow, softly drooping blue-green leaves that stay low to the ground. A tall, dense spike of nodding creamy white bell-shaped flowers rises above the foliage in summer.

Growing Adam's-needle

Grow Adam's-needle in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 24 to 48 inches wide.

Wildlife value

Host plant for yucca moth.

Entirely dependent on yucca moths for pollination in a classic obligate mutualism, with the moth larvae feeding on some of the developing seeds.

Common questions

How much sun does Adam's-needle need?: Adam's-needle grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Adam's-needle bloom?: Adam's-needle blooms in June and July.
Where is Adam's-needle native?: Adam's-needle (Yucca flaccida) is native to AL, AR, FL, GA and 17 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
What butterflies or moths does Adam's-needle host?: Adam's-needle is a larval host plant for yucca moth.

Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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.

See all plant problem guides

Ready to grow Adam's-needle? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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