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Yucca flaccida is often confused with:
Yucca filamentosa Form in bloom
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Yucca aloifolia Flowers
Yucca filamentosa Form in bloom
Yucca gloriosa Plant in bloom
Yucca flaccida has some common insect problems:
Yucca Plant Bug

Yucca flaccida

Previously known as:

  • Yucca concava
  • Yucca filamentosa var. concava
  • Yucca filamentosa var. flaccida
  • Yucca filamentosa var. smalliana
  • Yucca smalliana
Phonetic Spelling
YUK-ah FLA-sih-dah
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

This evergreen shrub in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae) that is native to portions of eastern North America (including NC) produces rosettes of spear-shaped leaves from stems that are typically emerging from under the soil surface. Grows best in poor, dry, sandy loam or rocky soil, but will adapt to other soils. Its natural habitat includes prairies, light woodlands, and the edges of forests.

Although the flowers might attract bees, hummingbirds, and other visitors, they are pollinated by white yucca moths, which have a symbiotic relationship with the plant. The female moth feeds on the nectar, rolls pollen from the flowers into a ball 3 times the size of her head, then transfers the pollen to the stigma. She oviposits in the ovary of the flower. The larvae feed on some of the seeds leaving leaving other seeds viable.  

This shrub forms suckers that can form small colonies.  

The fruit, flowers, and stem from this plant are each edible, both raw or cooked. The stem can be eaten like asparagus. The flower is edible raw or can be dried, crushed, and used as a flavoring. The roots contain saponins, which are poisonous. Saponins have a bitter taste and are not absorbed by the human body, so most will pass without causing harm. They are removed from the roots by leaching in running water. This will remove the majority of the saponins. Saponins create soapy foam in water and defend the plant against fungi.

Fiber from the leaves can be used for producing baskets, ropes, or mats.  

Quick ID Hints

  • Basal rosette of sharply pointed, stiff or flaccid, linear leaves with flat margins.

  • Curly, thread-like filaments, usually less than 1.5 inches long, along leaf margins

  • Erect panicles of nodding, cream-colored flowers borne on more-or-less ascending branches.

  • Fruits are erect, cylindrical capsules without any constriction in the center.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Does not grow well in locations with moist climates.  

See this plant in the following landscape:
Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Parking Lot Berms
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Blue Sentry'
    Evergreen with blue-green foliage.
  • 'Garland's Gold'
    Green and yellow foliage, variegated.
  • 'Golden Sword'
    Bold, arching striped leaves
  • 'Gold Heart'
    Variegated foliage. Rich yellow center with dark green margins.
  • 'Ivory'
    Variegated foliage.
'Blue Sentry', 'Garland's Gold', 'Golden Sword', 'Gold Heart', 'Ivory'
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#edible plant#moth caterpillar host#edible flowers#NC native#deer resistant#pollinator plant#edible leaves#larval host plant#NC Native Pollinator Plant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#perennial#moth friendly#wildlife friendly#th-sight#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Blue Sentry'
    Evergreen with blue-green foliage.
  • 'Garland's Gold'
    Green and yellow foliage, variegated.
  • 'Golden Sword'
    Bold, arching striped leaves
  • 'Gold Heart'
    Variegated foliage. Rich yellow center with dark green margins.
  • 'Ivory'
    Variegated foliage.
'Blue Sentry', 'Garland's Gold', 'Golden Sword', 'Gold Heart', 'Ivory'
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#edible plant#moth caterpillar host#edible flowers#NC native#deer resistant#pollinator plant#edible leaves#larval host plant#NC Native Pollinator Plant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#perennial#moth friendly#wildlife friendly#th-sight#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Yucca
    Species:
    flaccida
    Family:
    Asparagaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eastern North America
    Distribution:
    AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, MS, MO, NC, OH, OK, PA, SC, TN, TX, and WI, as well as Ontario, Canada.
    Wildlife Value:
    White Yucca moths feed on the nectar, pollinate the flowers. The caterpillars feed on the immature seeds.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Attracts Pollinators
    Textural
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wildlife Larval Host
    Edibility:
    The roots are harvested for saponins. The fruit, flowers and stems are edible.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Edible
    Native Plant
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Shrub
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
    Appendage:
    Prickles
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Wet
    Very Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit is a dry, oblong capsule.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    A showy 3-8' flower stalk with a loose cluster of bell-shaped flowers.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Sword-like leaves; 1-1.7 ft. long; bends downward; thread-like fibers on margin. The outer leaves are recurved, or bending back on itself, leading to a floppy appearance.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    The stems are subterranean, forming under the earth surface.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Patio
    Vertical Spaces
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Native Garden
    Nighttime Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Mass Planting
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Moths
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Poor Soil
    Problems:
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Dogs, cats: Vomiting; Horses: liver disease, dermatitis
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Saponins
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Roots