Yucca 'Blue Boy'
Best low-maintenance perennial for gardeners seeking year-round color and deer resistance.
Yucca 'Blue Boy' offers striking, dusky purple foliage that provides year-round visual interest in sunny landscapes. This slow-growing perennial produces new leaves that mature from green to shades of maroon and icy white before deepening to a rich purple. In mid- to late summer, it displays showy white flowers on long stems, attracting pollinators. Highly adaptable to various soil types, including poor and sandy conditions, it's also drought-tolerant once established and resistant to deer. Reaching up to 6 feet high and 5 feet wide, it's an excellent choice for beds and borders.
$16.95
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
1072
/ 2693
#1072 in Plants
Price vs Category Average
-61%
Below average
SKU
38478
Who it's for
- Landscapers seeking a dramatic, year-round focal point
- Gardeners needing low-maintenance plants for arid climates
- Cool-climate gardeners wanting a bold, desert-inspired aesthetic
Who should skip it
- Gardeners working with heavy, poorly draining clay soil
- Impatient gardeners looking for immediate landscape impact
- Families with young children or high-traffic walkways
Performance breakdown
Foliage Impact
Dusky purple hues provide a dramatic, year-round focal point.
Drought Tolerance
Thrives in dry conditions once established with minimal supplemental water.
Maintenance Ease
A low-effort perennial that resists deer and adapts to poor soil.
Pollinator Appeal
Showy summer blooms actively invite bees and butterflies to the garden.
Handling Safety
Fleshy, firm foliage avoids the sharp, spiky hazards of typical yuccas.
Growth Rate
Slow development requires patience to reach full six-foot maturity.
Key Specs
SKU
38478
Genus
Yucca
Species
desmetiana
Item Form
1-Quart
Mature Height
6 Feet
Mature Width
5 Feet
Hardiness Zones
7 - 10
Bloom Color
White
Features
- Spectacular dusky purple foliage year-round
- Showy white summer blooms
- Highly adaptable to various soil types
- Drought tolerant once established
- Resistant to deer
- Easy care plant
- Foliage is fleshy and firm, not spiky
- Attracts pollinators
What customers say
Customers consistently praise the exceptional quality of the Yucca 'Blue Boy', noting that the plants arrive healthy and establish quickly, even in challenging, dry environments. The striking, architectural design and deep blue foliage are major selling points, exceeding expectations for garden aesthetics. Reviewers value the plant's reliability and unique color, making this a highly valued addition to xeriscapes and perennial borders where hardiness is essential.
Know before you buy
No, the foliage is fleshy and firm rather than sharp or spiky, making it a safer option for high-traffic areas or near walkways compared to other yucca varieties.
To achieve the deepest purple tones, this plant should be placed in a location that receives full sun. While it is highly adaptable, insufficient light may cause the foliage to remain more green.
Yes, once established, the 'Blue Boy' is quite drought-tolerant and thrives in poor or sandy soil conditions. However, you should provide regular water during its first growing season to help it develop a strong root system.
The 'Blue Boy' is hardy in zones 7 through 10. If you live in a colder climate, you may need to provide winter protection or consider growing it in a container that can be moved indoors.
Since this yucca can reach a mature width of 5 feet, you should space them at least 5 to 6 feet apart to ensure they have enough room to spread and receive adequate airflow.
It is considered an easy-care plant. Aside from occasional cleanup of old leaves and ensuring it is planted in well-draining soil, it requires very little intervention to thrive.
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$17