Weakleaf Yucca Yucca flaccida

This evergreen shrub that is native to portions of the southeastern US 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 at the edges of forests.

It is pollinated by white Yucca moths who are attracted to the fragrant flowers.  The female moths feed on the nectar, rolls pollen from the flowers into a ball 3 times the size of her head, then transfers the pollen to the next flower.  She will lay her eggs on the stigma, then deposit the pollen. The larvae mature prior to all the seeds being consumed, leaving viable seeds.  

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 is 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.  Changing the water at least once during the process.  This will remove the majority of the saponins.  

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

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