Not a true yucca as its name suggests, the red yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) produces bluish-green, sword-shaped, grasslike leaves and 4- to 8-foot-tall flower stalks bearing coral, red or yellow blooms. This succulent grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 11 and keeps its leaves year-round. Flower stalks appear in early to midsummer and may stay throughout fall. The red yucca is highly drought-tolerant and requires only a suitable planting spot and minimal maintenance to ensure it remains healthy and blooms each year. Plant the red yucca in the warmest part of your garden. Choose a site with well-draining soil that receives at least six to eight hours of direct, intense sun.
Clear debris, dead plant material and weeds from the ground around the red yucca in early spring, just before new growth begins. Fertilize the plant with 10-10-10, slow-release, granular fertilizer to replenish soil nutrients. Apply the fertilizer at a rate of 1 tablespoon per 1 square foot of soil, broadcasting it in a ring around the plant. Keep the granules at least 6 inches away from the red yucca's stems. Rake the fertilizer into the top 3 inches of soil. Water the area thoroughly.
Moisten the soil surrounding the plant to a depth of 10 to 12 inches with water from a garden hose when the soil dries completely. Water in the morning to allow the foliage time to dry before nightfall. Never allow the soil to become soggy or waterlogged.
Cut off any dead, dry or brown leaves with a pair of pruning shears whenever you see them. Make each cut as close to the leaf's base as possible without damaging the plant's crown.
Remove red yucca flower stalks with a pair of pruning shears once the blooms fade and begin to fall. This promotes the development of new blooms. Cut horizontally through the stalk's base, 1/4 inch above the point where it joins the plant.