Drought Tolerant Landscapes with Agave and Yucca Plants

Do you live in a desert-like area of the country or just want a hardy addition to your garden that doesn’t require extensive watering? If you are looking for drought-resistance species to add to your landscaping without breaking the bank, the agave and yucca plants offered at Ty Ty Nursery might be a great option for you.

What is the difference between agave and yucca plants?

Both the agave and the yucca plant belong to the same family of Agavaceae, so they share many similarities. Each of the plants sold at Ty Ty Nursery has some distinct features, however; to help you tell them apart they take the time to outline the differences.

Both agave and yucca plants are succulents. The agave has sharp spines on the edge of its leaves, which is one of the plant’s major differences. Yucca leaves are thinner, straighter, and less succulent. Yucca plants can also produce trunks over time; while agaves will keep their original shape.

Typically, yucca plants bloom once per year, with large bell-shaped white flowers. The agave plant, however; only blooms once in its lifetime. The agave can produce flowers up to 40 feet tall.

More about the agave plant

Agaves are succulent plants. This means their leaves retain water, giving them a fleshy, thick appearance. The agave’s leaves radiate out from a short central stem and are protected by sharp edges. The plants grow best in desert regions, including the southwest U.S. and Mexico; although some plants that are native to North America are adaptable to colder climates, including the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Some agave plants are used to make tequila.

More about the yucca plant

The leaves of yucca plants are much less sharp than agaves, and the plants are found more widely throughout the U.S., growing into the Midwest and even the eastern portion of the country, as well as the south. They perform well in mixed environments, the desert as well as grasslands, mountains, and coastal areas. You can find yucca plants in Mexico as well, and in Central America.

Taking care of agave and yucca plants

Agave plants need full sun to thrive. They can be grown in pots but at Ty Ty Nursery recommends using an unglazed one that allows excess moisture to evaporate is recommended. You should only water the agave plant in moderation, depending on the season; and the plants should be allowed to dry out between each watering. You can add fertilizer each spring to provide the nutrients they need for the whole year. Adding small rocks or pebbles to the plant’s soil can also help with water drainage. Consider repotting the plants annually to allow them to grow and bring the plants inside when the temperature dips.

Yucca plants can grow well in both full or partial sun and also require well-drained soil to flourish. Make sure you plant them somewhere out of the way, where their spikey leaves won’t harm visitors. If you are planting more than one, you should space them at least 4 feet apart, because yucca plants can grow to 3 feet across. Water yuccas sparingly, about every two weeks in the summer, allowing them to dry in between each watering. You can stop watering the plants when the temperature at night goes below 60 degrees, when they can begin surviving on natural rainfall alone. Yucca plants can be fertilized once a year and you can prune dead, hanging leaves in the spring and trim the flower stalks down to the ground.

Drought Tolerant Landscapes with Agave and Yucca Plants

Do you live in a desert-like area of the country or just want a hardy addition to your garden that doesn’t require extensive watering? If you are looking for drought-resistance species to add to your landscaping without breaking the bank, the agave and yucca plants offered at Ty Ty Nursery might be a great option for you.

What is the difference between agave and yucca plants?

Both the agave and the yucca plant belong to the same family of Agavaceae, so they share many similarities. Each of the plants sold at Ty Ty Nursery has some distinct features, however; to help you tell them apart.

Both agave and yucca plants are succulents. The agave has sharp spines on the edge of its leaves, which is one of the plant’s major differences. Yucca leaves are thinner, straighter, and less succulent. Yucca plants can also produce trunks over time; while agaves will keep their original shape.

Typically, yucca plants bloom once per year, with large bell-shaped white flowers. The agave plant, however; only blooms once in its lifetime. The agave can produce flowers up to 40 feet tall.

More about the agave plant

Agaves are succulent plants. This means their leaves retain water, giving them a fleshy, thick appearance. The agave’s leaves radiate out from a short central stem and are protected by sharp edges. The plants grow best in desert regions, including the southwest U.S. and Mexico; although some plants that are native to North America are adaptable to colder climates, including the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Some agave plants are used to make tequila.

More about the yucca plant

The leaves of yucca plants are much less sharp than agaves, and the plants are found more widely throughout the U.S., growing into the Midwest and even the eastern portion of the country, as well as the south. They perform well in mixed environments, the desert as well as grasslands, mountains, and coastal areas. You can find yucca plants in Mexico as well, and in Central America.

Taking care of agave and yucca plants

Agave plants need full sun to thrive. They can be grown in pots but at Ty Ty Nursery recommends using an unglazed one that allows excess moisture to evaporate is recommended. You should only water the agave plant in moderation, depending on the season; and the plants should be allowed to dry out between each watering. You can add fertilizer each spring to provide the nutrients they need for the whole year. Adding small rocks or pebbles to the plant’s soil can also help with water drainage. Consider repotting the plants annually to allow them to grow and bring the plants inside when the temperature dips.

Yucca plants can grow well in both full or partial sun and also require well-drained soil to flourish. Make sure you plant them somewhere out of the way, where their spikey leaves won’t harm visitors. If you are planting more than one, you should space them at least 4 feet apart, because yucca plants can grow to 3 feet across. Water yuccas sparingly, about every two weeks in the summer, allowing them to dry in between each watering. You can stop watering the plants when the temperature at night goes below 60 degrees, when they can begin surviving on natural rainfall alone. Yucca plants can be fertilized once a year and you can prune dead, hanging leaves in the spring and trim the flower stalks down to the ground.