Plant Library

Other Names:  Margined Spanish Bayonet, Aloe Yucca, Dagger Plant

Description:

This stunning variety bears narrow, blue-green sword-like leaves with creamy white margins; presents spikes of nodding cream bell flowers in summer; good for dry sites and coastal areas; great for borders, patios and containers

Ornamental Features

Variegated Spanish Bayonet features bold panicles of creamy white bell-shaped flowers rising above the foliage from late spring to late summer. It has attractive bluish-green foliage edged in creamy white. The spiny sword-like leaves are highly ornamental and remain bluish-green throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Variegated Spanish Bayonet is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spiny

Variegated Spanish Bayonet is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Variegated Spanish Bayonet will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity extending to 7 feet tall with the flowers, with a spread of 4 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selection of a native North American species.

Variegated Spanish Bayonet makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, this plant may be too tender to survive the winter if left outdoors in a container. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.