Yucca filamentosa, also known as Adam’s needle, Spanish bayonet, yucca, and needle palm, is a stemless broadleaf evergreen shrub that grows naturally in beaches, dunes, and fields from South Carolina south to Florida and Mississippi. It has also spread beyond its original range into New England. This plant has a basal rosette of rigid, sword-shaped green leaves with long filamentous curly threads along the margins. The foliage clump typically reaches 2-3 feet tall. In late spring, a flowering stalk rises from the center of each rosette, usually growing to 5-8 feet tall, but sometimes reaching 12 feet. These stalks bear long terminal panicles of nodding bell-shaped creamy white flowers, and the fruits are elliptical dehiscent capsules. Over time, it can form a small colony from basal offsets.

The 'Color Guard' variety is a gold-centered variegated form with leaves featuring green margins and striking creamy gold centers, along with long, filamentous, curly white threads along the leaf margins. 

This yucca grows well in light, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. It can tolerate poor, sandy soils, heat, drought, and salt spray, and is surprisingly tolerant to some part shade. Propagation is easy from basal offsets.

‘Color Guard’ is a gold-centered variegated form. It features leaves with green margins and striking creamy gold centers. Long filamentous, curly white threads are found along the leaf margins.

It is quickly grown in light, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. It tolerates poor, sandy soils, heat, drought, and salt spray. It has a surprising tolerance for some part shade. It can be propagated easily from basal offsets.
Easily grown in light, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerant of poor, sandy soils, heat, drought, and salt spray. Surprising tolerance for some part shade. Can be propagated easily from basal offsets.