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Small Soapweed Yucca glauca

Phonetic Spelling
YUK-ah GLAW-kah
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

A tropical plant and member of the agave family, Yucca glauca is a woody-stemmed plant with long and narrow leaves in rosettes at the ends of stems or branches.  It is often purchased for its attractive foliage.  A flower stalk prominently appears at the end of the rosette. It is a native to the southwestern US and grows best in dry rocky soil.  Its natural habitat is dry rocky soils and often found in short grass prairies and desert grasslands.  Considered to be decumbent, which is a plant that has a portion laying on the ground with its extremity curving upward.  This variety of Yucca is among the most cold-hardy and landscape ready of the species.  

An important plant for wildlife, it provides food and nesting for small mammals, birds, and reptiles.  The flowers attract butterflies.  It is a host plant for the Yucca Moth.  This moth is the only insect that has success in pollinating the yucca flower and developing fruit and is the moths' only food source.  

Its roots are used to make soap. Crushed roots produce a lather that is great as a soap or shampoo.  The common name Small Soapweed stems from this trait.

Dried leaves from this plant can be used to weave baskets, mats, and sandals.  Rope is made from the extracted leaf fibers.

Propagation can be accomplished from seed that has been wintered.  Stem cuttings, rhizomes, and offsets are additional means of propagation. 

In addition to putting on a showy display, the leaves have many practical uses.  Dried foliage is woven into baskets, mats, and sandals. The leaves can be used to make paint brushes and brooms.  After splitting the leaves, they can be used as a tying material.  The needle-sharp points of the leaves have been used as needles.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  The roots contain saponins, which is harmful to some animals.  In humans, they are not absorbed by the body and tend to pass through.  High heat, such as baking, will also destroy this compound.

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Muscadine Bed
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Line Dance'
'Line Dance'
Tags:
#drought tolerant#deer resistant#nighttime garden#pollinator plant#evergreen shrub#larval host plant#dry soils tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#shade intolerant#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Line Dance'
'Line Dance'
Tags:
#drought tolerant#deer resistant#nighttime garden#pollinator plant#evergreen shrub#larval host plant#dry soils tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#shade intolerant#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Yucca
    Species:
    glauca
    Family:
    Asparagaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Root Cutting
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Central North America
    Distribution:
    AR, CO, IA, KS, MO, MT, ND, NE, NM, OK, SD, TX, WY
    Fire Risk Rating:
    high flammability
    Wildlife Value:
    Attracts butterflies. A larval host for the Yucca Moth. Small mammals, birds and reptiles nest in this plant. It is also a food source.
    Play Value:
    Attractive Flowers
    Textural
    Wildlife Cover/Habitat
    Wildlife Food Source
    Wildlife Nesting
    Edibility:
    The fruit, flowers, flower buds, stem and seedpods can be eaten.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Shrub
    Succulent
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Coarse
    Appendage:
    Spines
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Very Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The fruit develops into an oblong, woody capsule with flat, glossy black, seeds.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Green
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Bell
    Flower Size:
    > 6 inches
    Flower Description:
    Pendulous, greenish-white bell-shaped flowers appear on 3-4.5 ft.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    White
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Other/more complex
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Linear
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    A low cluster of leaves with one or more erect crowns. Sharp pointed leaves, 1-2.5' long. Inrolled margins with white filaments. There is typically one cluster of leaves, occasionally two.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Narrow are rarely branched.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Patio
    Slope/Bank
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Native Garden
    Nighttime Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Butterflies
    Moths
    Reptiles
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry 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