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Native Plant Society of Texas

Nodding Yucca

Yucca cernua

Other common name(s):

Weeping Yucca

Family:

Asparagaceae (Asparagus Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

This map uses data from the US EPA. EPA  servers have been offline frequently so maps may not display. We are working on a solution.

Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Flatwoods

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Cactus & Succulent

Height

2
to
10
ft.

Spread

3
to
4
ft.

Leaf Retention

Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Unknown

Wildlife Benefit

Unknown

Maintenance

Although it will grow in part shade it will bloom best with more sun. Native habitat: Yucca cernua occurs on acidic clay soils in open piney forests and prairies. In the garden it makes lovely rosettes of glaucous foliage. Uncommon in the wild and commercially, but may be available at chapter NPSOT plant sales in East Texas. The epithet “cernua” and the common name “nodding yucca” both refer to the plant’s nodding flowers, i.e. appearing to hang with the center pointing downward.

Comments

Blooms late spring or early summer. Wide leaves with yellowish serrate margins and drooping inflorescence. When mature, the clumps are topped with dramatic 10′ tall flower spikes of large white bells. After flowering, the clump often produces additional basal rosettes. It hybridizes with Yucca louisianensis in areas where they grow in proximity.

References

Learn about how to propagate Texas native plants.

Material Treatment Method Collection References
Stem Cutting Apply rooting hormone to the cut end of the stem to encourage root growth. Plant the prepared cutting in a well-draining soil mix, ideally a combination of sand, perlite, and peat. Insert the cutting about 2 inches deep into the soil. Water the soil gently to settle it around the cutting. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Covering the pot with a plastic bag can help maintain humidity. Place the pot in a warm, indirectly lit area. Roots typically develop in 4-8 weeks. Once rooted, gradually acclimate the young nodding yucca to less humid conditions before transplanting outdoors. Choose a healthy, disease-free stem cutting from a mature plant . The cutting should be about 4-6 inches long with several leaf nodes. Strip the lower leaves from the cutting, leaving only a few at the top. 1) https://www.picturethisai.com/care/propagate/Yucca_cernua.html 2) https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/foliage/yucca/separating-and-repotting-yucca-offshoot-pups.htm
Offshoots Division Take the separated pup and replant it where you would like it to grow or place in a pot to use. Water thoroughly and fertilize lightly. Yucca pups should be repotted in the fall. Repotting the pups in the fall will do the least amount of damage to the parent plant, which will be in a slow growth period in the fall. Yucca pups (offshoots) are the small but fully formed plants that grow at the base of your yucca plant. If the pup is pale and whitish, it is still too young to remove from he parent. If the pup is green, it has the chlorophyll manufacturing capacity needed to live on its own. To remove the pup from the yucca, remove as much of the dirt from around the base of the pup you wish to transplant. Then take a sharp knife or spade and cut down between the parent plant and the pup. Make sure to take a chunk of the parent plant's root (which is what the pup will be attached to). https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/foliage/yucca/separating-and-repotting-yucca-offshoot-pups.htm

About the Region

Fall Symposium 2025 Logo - Teach for the Future

Salado, the location of our Fall 2025 Symposium, lies at the intersection of two ecoregions: the Edwards Plateau (Limestone Cut Plain) and Blackland Prairie (Northern Blackland Prairie).

The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our fall Symposium host chapter, the Tonkawa Chapter, includes both of these ecoregions.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason