- 5 Best Tool for Cutting Tall Grass – Detailed Review - November 21, 2023
- Great States 815-18: A Review That Discusses All About It! - November 21, 2023
- Worx WG743 PowerShare Lawn Mower – All the In-Depth Insights - November 21, 2023
Red yucca companion plants include the plants that are going to help improve the quality of your red Yucca and make it look good at the same time. The vibrant-red hesperaloe parviflora succulent of the Asparagaceae family prefers to grow best in full sun and well-drained soil.
There are plenty of options available so just remember, physical appearance is not the only criterion you need to fulfill; for example, a pygmy date palm might look attractive, but it does not go well with yuccas because of their subtropical nature.
Continue reading to know more about the plant combinations you will be proud to incorporate in your gardens.
“Companion planting principles are part of the legacy knowledge often passed down through generations.” – Luxembourg University
JUMP TO TOPIC
9 Red Yucca Companion Plants
Red yucca companion plants include plants that are beneficial for your yuccas. This guide is not only going to make your Yucca look beautiful but will also help in aspects like yucca care.
Here are 9 companion plants that will help you use Yucca in the garden like never before.
1. Caesalpinia
Unbowed, thorny shrubs/small trees belong to the Fabaceae family of flowering plants. The plant is a native plant of Central and South America.
It is a great source of attraction for hummingbirds and butterflies, making it a great yucca companion.
– Growing Season
Plant the shrubs in early spring to have forty goldish-orange clusters of bowl-shaped flowers from spring till autumn, and all year round in tropical regions, making them good companion plants for grasses.
– Growth Rate
It is a fast-growing shrub. It can grow up to 10 to 20 feet tall and 6 to 12 feet wide.
– Propagation
The main sources of its propagation are seeds and softwood cuttings. It is quite easy to propagate at home.
– Specific Needs
The plant grows best under the full sun and in moist but well-drained soil. It requires a bit of pruning from time to time to avoid outgrowth.
2. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is commonly known for its medicinal properties.
It is a great option to add to your yucca plant because it helps improve the soil’s quality and prevents pests and diseases.
A survey conducted in 2001 shows fifty-five respondents agree that Aloe Vera is the easiest plant type to grow and does not require much looking after.
– Growing Season
It begins to bloom in the early spring season. Because of this you should let it rest in cooler temperatures for it to bloom.
– Growth Rate
It takes three to four years for Aloe Vera to mature indoors. However, it grows much faster outdoors. Aloe vera can grow up to 1 to 2 feet in height and 2 to 3 feet in width.
– Propagation
The main sources of its propagation are seeds, softwood cuttings, and offset partitioning. It is very good to have as a DIY propagation project.
– Specific Needs
It grows best under full sun to light shade and can be grown easily in sandy, well-drained soil. Add fertilizer two to three times in the growing season is sufficient.
3. Adams Needle
The plant, also known as Needle Palm, is a look-alike of yucca plants and is a member of the Agave family.
It is an ornamental, evergreen, perennial shrub with broad leaves. Furthermore, it is a native plant of the Southeastern United States of America and Mexico.
– Growth Season
Adams Needle blooms starting from June. It bears bell-shaped creamy-white flowers, and may go up till September.
– Growth Rate
With a medium growth rate, the plant can live up to twenty years when taken care of. It can also grow up to three to 8 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.
– Propagation
It propagates through seeds and stem cuttings. The best season for its propagation is spring or summer.
– Specific Needs
It grows best and easily in full sun and well-drained soil. Usually, the plant is fine without any additional feeding; however, if you notice it withering, mix granular fertilizer into the soil.
4. Sedum
A succulent fleshy stem with thick, green leaves, bright-rosy flowers, and a compact plant making it appropriate for small spaces.
It belongs to the Crassulaceae family and is a native of South East Canada and the Eastern United States.
– Growing Season
The best season to grow it is spring. It starts to bloom in early summer and may last till fall.
– Growth Rate
It has a fast growth rate and can grow up to 1 inch in the growing season. It can grow two to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide.
– Propagation
The easiest way is to take the plant’s tip clipping and add it to the soil. Another way of propagating it is by dividing it into clumps.
– Specific Needs
It grows best in full sun, with dry to medium moisture, and well-drained soil. The pH level should be alkaline to neutral.
5. Desert Spoon
The perennial, evergreen shrub is also referred to as common sotol and blue sotol and belongs to the family of Asparagaceae.
It has spiky leaves sprouting out from a trunk, and its foliage is rather stiff. It is a native of North America and makes a great companion because it is no attraction to pests.
– Growing Season
Its flowering season starts in late spring and continues till summer. The tall stalks bear creamy white clusters of flowers upon reaching the age of seven.
– Growth Rate
It has a slow growth rate. The plant can grow upto 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide.
– Propagation
The shrub propagates from seeds. You can try other methods but it may be in vain.
– Specific Needs
It grows best under the full sun and in sandy, well-drained, neutral to acidic pH soil. Water the plant daily until it fully matures and weekly in the summer season.
6. Winecup Plant
Herbaceous perennial belongs to the Malvaceae, more commonly Mallow, family.
The plant has green stems sprouting fine white hairs and bears cup-shaped magenta flowers. It is native to North America.
– Growing Season
The perennial blooms in spring and lasts throughout summer. It dies as the winter approaches but re-emerges with the arrival of spring.
– Growth Rate
It has a moderate growth rate. The tallest it can be is 1 to 3 feet and can be as wide as 3 to 6 feet.
– Propagation
The seeds produced in the pods can be sown directly in the soil. It is recommended to avoid moving the plant once it matures to avoid disturbing the tap root.
– Specific Needs
Full sun or partial shade is going to make your plant bloom. It prefers to live in well-drained soil and can even tolerate poor soils.
7. Boxwood
The shrub, commonly known as English Boxwood, is a member of the Buxaceae family. It has leathery, rounded leaves and tiny, white single flowers in early spring. Even though the tiny flowers often get unnoticed by humans, they attract hummingbirds all the more!
It is a great plant to add on its own because of its dense volume. Still, it would also go well with boxwood companion plants, like Rose and Purple Coneflower, for a pop of color.
It is a native plant of southern Europe, Northern Africa, and Western Asia.
– Growing Season
The plant blooms all year round, especially in spring. However, avoid planting it in extreme weather conditions.
– Growth Rate
It has a slow growth rate. Once fully mature, it can be as tall as 2 to 8 feet and the same wide.
– Propagation
The best way to propagate is by rooting from the stem cuttings. It is ideal for performing the process in midsummer.
– Specific Needs
It prefers full sun to partly shady conditions. It loves loamy, well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil.
8. Purple Fountain Grass
Purple fountain grass is a great option to add alongside your Yucca because it is pest resistant. The purple, flowy grass looks beautiful on its own.
It does not have any purple fountain grass companion plants to add value to its presence.
– Growing Season
Its season of interest starts in mid-summer and lasts till fall. It blooms with burgundy flower plumes.
– Growth Rate
It has a rapid growth rate and can be as tall as 3 to 5 feet and 2 to 4 feet wide in a single season.
– Propagation
It can be propagated by two methods: Division and seeds.
– Specific Needs
This plant ideally likes to grow in full sun and well-drained soils. It is a low-maintenance plant that does not require much watering.
9. Crape Myrtle
Crape Myrtle is known for its colorful summer flowers. It is a member of the Lythraceae family.
Yuccas are excellent companion plants for crape myrtle because one can never go wrong with a combination of bright colors. The plant also comes in white if you prefer adding something to tone down the red color of your Yucca. The plant is a native of Eastern Asia, i.e., China and Korea.
– Growing Season
It starts growing in July and blooms till September. Some of its varieties even last till frost hits.
– Growth Rate
Crape Myrtles have a medium to fast growth rate. The trees can grow up to 30 feet tall and 15 feet wide, while the shrubs reach a maximum height of 5 feet.
– Propagation
It is easily propagated through semi-hardwood cuttings and the best time to take them is during the growing season.
Specific Needs
The low-maintenance plant does not have any specific needs. Full sun and well-drained soils are what this plant is fond of.
Conclusion
Red yucca companion plants have a way of bringing out the best in red Yucca. Each plant listed above has its significance making it easier to choose from depending on your needs.
Whichever plant you decide on including as a companion, always remember a few points from the article above:
- You can add Adam’s Needle if you want a yucca look alike.
- If you see your Yucca’s health deteriorating, use Aloe Vera, as it has medicinal properties.
- Add Sedum as a companion if you have a small landscape.
- Boxwood makes a great companion if you want to add volume around your Yucca.
After looking at these plants and their characteristics, which plant would you like to grow with your Yucca?
References
- (Jul 27, 2022). Easiest indoor plant type to grow and take care of according to non-expert gardeners in the United States in 2021. Statista.
Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1300286/easiest-growth-care-indoor-plants-us/ - https://adminplants.sc.egov.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/cs_yufi.pdf
- Plant Propagation Protocol for Callirhoe involucrata. University of Washington
Retrieved from https://courses.washington.edu/esrm412/protocols/2022/CAIN2.pdf
