Aloe Yucca Yucca aloifolia
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- YUK-ah al-oh-ih-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
-
Spanish bayonet is native to the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States from southern Virginia south to Florida and west to the Texas Gulf Coast. It is a member of the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). The species epithet is Latin for “having leaves like Aloe.”
It grows in sandy soils, especially on sand dunes along the coast of NC. Spanish bayonet is drought-tolerant and highly tolerant of salt spray. They need very well-drained sandy soils but will tolerate other soils. The plants do best and flower in full sun. The plants will survive in shade, but the leaves will be small and soft, and the plant will rarely bloom.
The leaves of Spanish bayonet are stiff and well armed. The spines on the leaf tips are very sharp, and there are no filaments on the leaf margin. The flowers are giant panicles of pendulous bell-shaped flowers appearing in the center of the plant in spring to late summer, depending on the year. After flowering, the trunk stops growing, but one or more lateral buds are soon formed, and the uppermost becomes a new terminal shoot. It also produces new buds, or offshoots, near the base of the trunk to form clusters of stems. Stems that tip over can root along the fallen stem and continue growing.
Used as a barrier, the sharp points will definitely keep out trespassers. Use as a specimen, and the blooms will be the focal point. This species is at home in a dry garden, native plant garden or rock garden. It would also be an asset in a pollinator garden, winter garden or night garden (the white flowers are beautiful in moonlight, but keep the plant away from traffic areas). Plant along the dunes as they tolerate salt sprays. This plant is resistant to damage by deer (but they will eat the fruits).
Quick ID
- Leaves flat, sword-shaped, rigid, sharp-pointed, no filaments
- Giant panicles of white, pendulous flowers
- Flowers are large, bell-shaped, and fragrant
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Yucca plant bug sometimes causes cosmetic damage.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Tricolor'
Green and white leaves - 'Variegata'
- 'Tricolor'
- 'Tricolor', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Tricolor'
Green and white leaves - 'Variegata'
- 'Tricolor'
- 'Tricolor', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Yucca
- Species:
- aloifolia
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The roots can be used as soap and shampoo. Pioneers made rope and string from the fibrous leaves.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Coastal plain from NC to FL & LA
- Distribution:
- AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, VA
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Pollinators like butterflies, hummingbirds and moths are attracted to the flowers and wildlife are attracted to the fruit. The flowers are pollinated by specialist moths.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- The flowers can be served as a salad or cooked. Fruit can be eaten raw or cooked.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Succulent
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
- Appendage:
- Spines
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- 1–3-inch-long, ovoid or ellipsoid, blackish, gooey fruit are produced from October to December.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- White, fragrant, pendulous flowers, about 3 inches wide, occur in erect clusters up to 2 feet tall. Blooms from June to July.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Evergreen, dark green, thick and stiff, up to 2 feet long, with tiny sharp serrations on the margin and a very sharp tip
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Corky Ridges
- Stem Description:
- Thick succulent stems. The stems are covered by retained, dead leaves. Under the leaves, the stem is rough, dark brown and woody.
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Screen/Privacy
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Moths
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Salt
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
