Yucca gloriosa var. tristis x recurvifolia Katana® - Spanish Dagger

The Yucca x Katana® is a remarkable hybrid for modern gardens, where it stands out for its ornamental qualities and ease of maintenance. This elegant hybrid combines a fine bluish foliage with a weeping arborescent habit, perfect for creating a focal point in flower beds, rockeries, or as a standalone specimen. Suitable for both limestone soils and slightly moist terrains, it can withstand temperatures down to -15°C, making it suitable for adoption in various climates. It can also be planted in pots to decorate terraces and balconies with ease.

The Yucca was previously classified in the Agavaceae family, now included, along with six other close families, in the Asparagaceae family. The Yucca x Katana® is the result of a cross-breeding between the Yucca linearifolia, native to semi-arid regions of Mexico, and the Yucca recurvifolia, native to the southern United States. This hybrid, developed by the French nurseryman Frédéric Julien, is characterized by its evergreen intense blue foliage that forms a dense crown. The leaves measure approximately 50 to 60 cm long, are flexible, and arranged in a hemispherical rosette, giving the plant a harmonious appearance. Reaching between 2.5 and 3 m in height ultimately, with a width of about 1 m, 'Katana' sometimes develops multiple trunks after flowering, enhancing its sculptural habit. The flowering period, occurring from May to June, consists of tall inflorescences filled with bell-shaped white flowers, with no noticeable fragrance. This yucca is not very susceptible to winter blemishes, remaining decorative throughout the seasons. Easy to cultivate, 'Katana' handles drought well, while tolerating humidity better than other varieties, and displays appreciable hardiness, tested down to -15°C!

The Yucca x 'Katana' will delight enthusiasts of exoticism and contemporary or mineral landscapes. In a rockery or in a flower bed with Mediterranean accents, combine it with other distinctive plants such as Hesperaloe parviflora which offers a striking coral red flowering in summer. By the seaside, also pair it with Agave americana for its large silvery leaves, with Dasylirion wheeleri with a similar habit, with Phormium tenax 'Purpureum' for its upright and colourful leaves, or with Festuca glauca, a grass with bluish hues reminiscent of the reflections of the Yucca Katana. This yucca can also be paired with Mediterranean plants like cistus for a lasting and aesthetic landscaping effect.