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Our Lords Candle

Hesperoyucca whipplei

true

1 gallon

Our Lords Candle

In stock

4'x4'

Sizes:

Our Lord’s Candle – Hesperoyucca whipplei

Also known as: Chaparral Yucca, Spanish Bayonet, Quixote Plant

Our Lord’s Candle is the showiest of the yuccas, known for its dramatic, towering flower spike and striking sword-like leaves. Native to Southern California and Baja California, Mexico, it thrives in coastal chaparral, foothills, and desert transition zones at elevations between 950 and 8,200 feet. Locally, it is often found in sandy washes and rocky slopes, particularly in foothill areas.

This evergreen perennial forms a stemless rosette of long, rigid, blue-green leaves with sharply pointed tips and finely serrated edges. Over a lifespan of 5 to 10 years, the plant stores energy until it is ready to bloom. At maturity, it produces a rapid and spectacular flowering event: a towering spike 10 to 15 feet tall that emerges in just two weeks, bearing hundreds of nodding, bell-shaped flowers in shades of white to pale purple.

After blooming and setting seed, Hesperoyucca whipplei dies, although the dried flower stalk may remain standing for years. Some subspecies, particularly H. whipplei ssp. caespitosa, may form clumps and re-sprout after flowering.

This yucca is highly drought-tolerant, heat-tolerant, and well-adapted to poor, dry, and even clay soils. It is a classic example of a plant perfectly evolved for arid environments.

Local Indigenous peoples, including the Cahuilla and Kumeyaay, have traditionally used the leaves for cordage, and the stalks, flowers, and seeds for food. The flowering stalks are roasted and eaten like asparagus, and the seeds can be ground into meal.

Wildlife Value

Host Plant: California Yucca Moth (Tegeticula maculata)
Nectar Source: Confirmed for California Yucca Moth (Tegeticula maculata)
Bird Resources: Nest Sites; Shelter; Insects
Bird Species: Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus); California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum); Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) – known to nest or forage in yuccas
Bees: Attracts generalist native bees, including species from the genera Bombus and Anthophora

Plant Care

Native region:

Local Native; Mojave Desert

Water needs:

Low

Exposure:

Full Sun

Mature size:

4'x4'

Growth rate:

Moderate

Flower color:

Cream

Flower season:

Spring

Pruning:

None

Cold Hardiness:

20 degrees - one source mentions it growing in Wrightwood, where temperatures can reach 0 degrees

Nectar-producing:

Yes

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Yes

Butterflies or Moths:

Yes

Monarchs:

Larval host:

Yes

Bees:

Yes

Bats:

Birds:

Yes

Nest site:

Yes

Nest materials:

Rabbit-resistant:

Yes

Tortoises:

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on reliable research, personal experience in my own garden, observations from other gardens I’ve visited, and time spent studying plants in their native habitats. I always welcome your feedback and experiences to help me continue educating others!

Cacti:
In my experience, cacti are much happier in filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Their colors are more vibrant and they tend to bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you look closely at how our native barrel cactus and beavertail prickly pear grow in the wild, you’ll often find them tucked among rocks or beneath the shelter of creosote and other shrubs.

⚠️ A note of caution: Cacti and succulents are often illegally collected from the wild, which not only damages plant populations but also disturbs entire ecosystems. In some cases, wild populations of cacti have even gone extinct because of this practice. When purchasing these plants, always be sure they’ve been legally obtained. Look for nursery-grown stock or plants with a native plant certification, and keep that documentation for your records.

Light Requirements:
In our desert (Sonoran/Colorado), “full sun” doesn’t always mean what you might think. Many so-called full-sun plants benefit from and actually appreciate some late-afternoon filtered light—especially during the intense summer months.