Red yucca
Hesperaloe parviflora
Red yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) is a shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 2–4 ft tall and 3–4 ft wide, slow-growing, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Z5b-hardy at best. Loses leaves below ~-15°F and recovers slowly. Site against a warm south wall or in a protected microclimate for best winter survival.
low water2–4 ft tall and 3–4 ft wideXeric / water-wisePlant Select®Deer-resistant
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At a glance
- Botanical name
- Hesperaloe parviflora
- Variety / cultivar
- 'Brakelights'
- Type
- Shrub
- Mature size
- 2–4 ft tall and 3–4 ft wide
- Planting spacing
- ~4 ft apart (3 ft for a hedge/screen)
- Bloom length
- Reblooms
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5–11
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Soil
- sandy, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.5–8.5
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- high
- Plant Select®
- Yes, Colorado's Plant Select® program
- Bloom color
- red, pink
- Bloom time
- late spring, early summer, mid summer, late summer
- Pollinator value
- high
- Site uses
- Hellstrips / parking strips, Hot south- or west-facing walls
Wildlife & ecology
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
Planting & establishment
Water weekly first summer; minimal after. Wet feet kill it, avoid heavy clay without drainage.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Red yucca good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Red yucca is a well-suited shrub for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Red yucca get?
- It matures to about 2–4 ft tall and 3–4 ft wide.
- How far apart do I plant Red yucca?
- Space Red yucca about 4 ft apart for a full, natural form, or about 3 ft apart for a faster hedge or screen.
- Is Red yucca hardy on the Front Range?
- Red yucca is hardy in USDA 5–11. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is at its cold edge here. Site it in a warm microclimate and protect young plants.
- How much water does Red yucca need?
- It needs low water once established.
- How fast does Red yucca grow?
- Red yucca is a slow-growing shrub. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- Is Red yucca native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Red yucca deer-resistant?
- Red yucca is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is Red yucca a Plant Select® winner?
- Yes. Red yucca is in Plant Select®, the plant-recommendation program run by Colorado State University and Denver Botanic Gardens to highlight plants that thrive in the region.
- How long does Red yucca bloom?
- Red yucca reblooms through the season, especially if you deadhead spent flowers on the Front Range. Bloom timing shifts a week or two with elevation and spring weather.
