Yucca plants have long been a staple of interior decoration globally—from brightening your living room to adding texture and color to your office décor.
Although it’s a versatile addition to any environment, finding what to plant with a yucca plant can be tricky.
Ideally, pair your yucca plants with Sage, Yarrow, Sedum, Snake Plant, Rudbeckia, and Tiger Lilies. These plants have the same soil and light needs, making them the perfect buddies for your yuccas.
Read on to learn more about the ideal species and conditions to keep your yuccas and their companions happy and healthy.
What to Plant With a Yucca Plant
Yucca plants are well-known for their unique shape, which makes them perfect for creating fascinating combinations with other plants.
Companion plants are an excellent choice for sprucing up your landscape with yuccas. Here are some of the reasons to grow them in your garden.
- Enhance the soil quality around your yucca plants
- Defend against pests and infections
- Attract pollinating insects
- Offer aesthetic value to your garden’s scenery
Suitable for indoor and outdoor landscapes, check out a few of the top species to pair with yucca plants below.
1 – Aloe Vera
This herbaceous perennial plant is known for its medicinal benefits. Not only that, but it makes an excellent companion for yuccas since it can enhance soil quality.
Additionally, aloe vera is notable for its immunity to insects and diseases. These qualities help defend your yuccas from any possible problems.
Aloe vera and yucca, when grown together, can draw insects and pollinators. These two plants form a good landscape duo as they can both thrive under similar environments.
2 – English Ivy
English ivy is a superb yucca companion since it promotes soil stabilization and air quality enhancements. On top of that, it’s drought tolerant, making it perfect for environments with limited water sources.
Moreover, English ivy thrives with medium to low sunlight and may grow in different soil types. Since it’s an evergreen perennial plant, it can be grown by rooting stem cuttings. It’s a perfect option for plant owners looking to add color to their gardens.
Take note that English ivy can be intrusive in some areas. So, verify with your local garden shops or nurseries before growing this plant.
3 – Herbs
Gardeners may cultivate a host of herbs in a tiny space using buddy planting. Herbs are insect and disease-resistant, making them a great horticultural partner.
Usually, thyme, basil, mint, and lavender are a few herbs that go well with yucca plants.
However, planting too many herbs will force them to fight for water and nutrients, which is detrimental to yuccas.
4 – Texas Sage
Texas sage is an ideal yucca companion since it has similar growth requirements and blossoms at the same time.
Likewise, these two plants complement each other and bring matching tones to the garden.
Texas sage is a perennial shrub that thrives in a dry place and grows from 3–5 feet in height. It’s an ideal choice for new gardeners as it’s simple to cultivate and demands minimal upkeep.
5 – Cactus Plants
Yucca and cactus are desert plants. Thus, they make a naturally great pair. Cactus plants offer additional wind protection for yuccas and help maintain the soil around yuccas porous and well-drained.
Some nice cactus plants to match with yuccas are sedum, echeveria, sempervivum, and agave. These plants require little care and will keep the space surrounding your yuccas looking clean and inviting.
6 – Tiger Lilies
Tiger lilies are low-maintenance perennials. Like yuccas, they enjoy well-draining soil and partial or direct sunlight. This explains why tiger lilies make a great pair with yucca plants.
Yuccas and tiger lilies complement each other well and can generate enormous amounts of flowers during summer and late spring.
7 – Snake Plant
Given its similar look and low maintenance, the snake plant is an excellent partner plant for yucca.
Additionally, it’s regarded as the top air-purifying plant, making it a perfect addition for detoxifying the air in any indoor space.
8 – Winecup Plant
Winecup is a herbaceous plant from the Malvaceae, generally known as the Mallow family. Like yuccas, winecup plants blossom in the spring and summer and go dormant during winter.
Moreover, winecups require direct sunlight or partial shade to flourish. They prefer well-drained soil but can also thrive in poor soil.
9 – Yarrow
Due to its similar horticultural needs, yarrow is an excellent companion plant for yucca. They thrive in slightly acidic and sandy soils and are resilient to most soil conditions.
When grown in direct sunlight, yarrow survives. Otherwise, it may lead to fewer flowers and withering.
10 – Rudbeckia
This hardy perennial enjoys well-draining soil and natural light. Rudbeckia thrives under similar conditions as yucca plants.
Additionally, rudbeckia doesn’t mind what kind of soil you plant them in. But, it requires watering regularly.
11 – Coreopsis
Coreopsis attracts birds, bees, and butterflies, making it an excellent partner for yucca plants.
When planted as annual crops, they’ll blossom in early summer. Alternatively, when cultivated as perennials, they’ll start flowering two years after.
Growing Yucca Plants
Yucca needs proper drainage and thrives in dry, rocky soil with low fertility. It’s a great option for landscaping in these garden conditions where most plants won’t survive.
If you don’t have yucca-made soil, cultivate it in a big container or on an elevated mound with sand incorporated into the soil.
Moreover, growing yuccas require direct sunlight. They prefer the warmest place in the garden, like near a south-facing window or in areas that are fenced in.
Landscaping Yucca Plants
Yuccas offer a dramatic focal point when planted as a single plant or in a group. They look great when coupled with other plants that look similar:
- Tropical plants such as palms
- Desert plants such as cacti and sage
- Mediterranean plants like lavender and herbs
Since the leaves of most yucca species have a pointy edge, it’s best to place them far from pathways and other areas where people, particularly kids, are likely to rub against yuccas.
Where Should I Plant Yucca Indoors?
When planted indoors, place your yuccas close to south or west-facing windows to help them get the most sunlight they require.
While they get more sunshine in the morning and less at noon, east-facing windows are still ideal. This sun-loving plant grows much slower in areas with less light.
This plant isn’t tolerant of low light either. It shouldn’t be placed in a poorly lit space or far from windows. Although, you may add artificial grow lights to your existing lighting.
Properly maintained yuccas can thrive for at least five years indoors and at least 20–50 years as outdoor plants.
Yucca plants eventually shed their lower leaves, which creates a natural skirt around the trunk. This gives your yuccas an attractive tree-like look.
Where Should I Plant Yucca Outdoors?
Direct sunlight is good for yuccas since it promotes natural development and blossoming. When planting outdoors, it’s preferable to place your plant in an area where there are at least 6–8 hours of sunlight daily.
If you’re bringing an indoor potted yucca outside for the summer and springtime, we recommend doing it early in the season. This way, your plant can adapt to changes in environment and temperature.
In addition, if you place an indoor plant outside during a midday peak summer season, it’ll probably burn.
Even though yuccas aren’t invasive, planting them near the house may cause damage to underground pipes, pathways, and home foundations.
Similarly, watch out for sharp edges of yuccas as they can cause injuries. Besides that, all parts of yuccas are toxic to pets. So, you should exercise caution if you decide to add any.
How to Get Yucca Plants to Bloom
Yucca plants are known for yielding stunning blossoms. If your plant isn’t flowering, there are a few ways you can help.
For starters, ensure that your yuccas are well fertilized. If your soil lacks nutrients, try a phosphorus-rich fertilizer—bone meal would suffice.
In addition to regular feeding, avoid overwatering your yuccas. Excessive moisture may trigger fungal infections, making your yuccas sick and preventing them from blooming.
Likewise, move your yuccas outdoors during the early spring. The majority of yuccas bloom in the spring or summer months.
Ultimately, it might be a while for yuccas to grow and bloom. So, if your yuccas are still young, be patient and optimistic because they’ll eventually blossom.
Final Thoughts
Considering what to plant with a yucca plant can help you gain confidence and get a knack for plant care.
Planting different plants with yuccas helps to promote their growth and health. Aloe vera, tiger lilies, cacti, and herbs, to name a few, are all excellent yucca companions.
These plants share similar growth patterns and needs. Thus, it’s a lot easier to maintain your garden.
You can ensure your yuccas will thrive by choosing the best plant companion, whether it’s indoors or outdoors.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.