Spanish Dagger Yucca aloifolia
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Spanish Dagger:
- Phonetic Spelling
- YUK-ah al-oh-ih-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
-
Aloe Yucca 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 grows in sandy soils, especially on sand dunes along the coast of NC. It is drought tolerant and highly salt spray tolerant. The spines are very sharp on leaf tips 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 thicket like areas.
They need very well-drained sandy soils but will tolerate other well-drained soils and do best in full sun but can tolerate some shade. Used as a screen, the sharp points will definitely keep your neighbors out. Use as a specimen and the blooms will be the focal point. Rock gardens work well also. Plant along the dunes as they tolerate salt sprays. This plant is resistant to damage by deer.
Quick ID
- Leaves flat, sword-shaped, rigid, sharp-pointed, no filaments
- Giant panicles of white, pendulous flowers
- Flowers large, bell-shaped, fragrant
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Tricolor'
Green and white leaves - 'Variegata'
- 'Tricolor'
- 'Tricolor', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Tricolor'
Green and white leaves - 'Variegata'
- 'Tricolor'
- 'Tricolor', 'Variegata'
- Tags:
-
-
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.
- 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
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- 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:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- 1-3 inch oval, brown, dry fruit from October to December.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- White, fragrant, pendulous flowers, about 3 in. wide, occur in erect clusters up to 2 ft. long. Blooms from June to July.
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-
Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Prickly
- 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:
- Dark green, thick and stiff, up to 2 ft. long, with tiny sharp serrations on the margin and a very sharp tip
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Thick succulent stems
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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 Dogs
- Problem for Horses
