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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', 'Variegata'
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#edible plant#white flowers#moth caterpillar host#edible flowers#salt tolerant#NC native#deer resistant#nighttime garden#edible fruits#fantz#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#coastal UPL#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#food source hard mast fruit#FACU Piedmont Mountains#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#Audubon#food source winter#moth friendly#wildlife friendly#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Tricolor'
    Green and white leaves
  • 'Variegata'
'Tricolor', 'Variegata'
Tags:
#evergreen#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#edible plant#white flowers#moth caterpillar host#edible flowers#salt tolerant#NC native#deer resistant#nighttime garden#edible fruits#fantz#food source fall#NC Native Pollinator Plant#food source herbage#food source nectar#food source pollen#coastal UPL#bird friendly#dry soils tolerant#food source hard mast fruit#FACU Piedmont Mountains#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#Audubon#food source winter#moth friendly#wildlife friendly#cpp
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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