This yucca performs best in warm sunny areas with good drainage and occasional to infrequent summer irrigation. It is noted as preferring alkaline conditions and is hardy to around 0°F.

Yucca rigida plant is from the northern Mexican states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, and Zacatecas. Our plants came from seed purchased as Yucca rostrata but the crop had many plants that were clearly not Yucca rostrata which has shorter, slightly twisted and softer leaves. The name Yucca was given to the genus by Linnaeus, perhaps by mistake, as it is the Latinized derivation of "yuca", the Caribbean name for Cassava (Manihot esculenta) an unrelated plant in the Euphorbia family that is native to the Caribbean area. Interestingly it was also Linnaeus who applied the name Manihot to Yuca. The specific epithet describes well the inflexible characteristic of this plant's leaves – we once heard a person jokingly describing the difference between Yucca rostrata and Yucca rigida by saying that if you forcefully push the palm of one's hand against the leaf of these plants that the Yucca rostrata leaf may prick you but the Yucca rigida leaf could well go through your hand. Other common names include Silver Leaf Yucca and Palmilla. 

The information about Yucca rigida displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.