Spanish Dagger Yucca Yucca gloriosa
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- YUK-ah glo-ree-OH-sah
- Description
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Mound lily yucca is an evergreen perennial in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae) native to the SE USA. It occurs in coastal habitats from NC to Florida, on dunes and shell middens. The species epithet is Latin for “glorious” and references the spectacular panicle of flowers.
Mound lily yucca prefers well-drained sandy soils in full sun but tolerates most soils if they are well-drained and some shade. The plant tolerates heat, humidity, drought and salt spray and can tolerate some cold and snow.
It grows as a shrub up to 16 feet tall but is relatively slow-growing. The leaves are in a basal rosette on younger plants and are sword-shaped with sharp tips. Eventually, mound lily yucca will develop a woody trunk with a more tree-like form. The large panicles of white bell-shaped flowers are a showstopper and occur late spring to mid-summer. The flowers attract the yucca moth (Tegeticula yuccasella), which performs pollination and whose larvae feed on the seeds. Also, bees and hummingbirds visit the flowers.
Mound lily yucca is often used as a container plant and can be grown as a house plant. It can be used for naturalizing coastal areas, as a barrier, specimen or accent plant. Perfect for the rock or drought-tolerant garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Variegata'
Variegated leaves
var. tristis
Giant, tall, conical panicles of cream-colored flowers - 'Variegata'
- 'Variegata', var. tristis
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Variegata'
Variegated leaves
var. tristis
Giant, tall, conical panicles of cream-colored flowers - 'Variegata'
- 'Variegata', var. tristis
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Yucca
- Species:
- gloriosa
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Ropes, cloth, baskets, and mats are made from a fiber obtained from the leaves. Roots are sometimes used as a soap substitute.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- SE USA
- Distribution:
- AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts the yucca moth for pollination as well as the larva feeding on the seeds. Also, bees and hummingbirds visit the flowers.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heat and drought tolerant.
- Edibility:
- Flowers, fruits, roots, and stems are edible. Flowers are tasty raw or cooked, and the stems can be used like asparagus. The roots can be cooked or dried and ground into a powder that can be used to make bread
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 16 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Succulent
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- 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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a 6-lobed leathery, elongate berry up to 6 inches long from November to December.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Bell-shaped, pendulous, creamy white flowers are 4 inches long and tinged red or purple on erect 3- to 8-foot panicle. The plants flower between April and October.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Stiff, straight 1.5 to 2 feet long by 2½ inches wide, sword-like, glaucous green, sharp-tipped leaves
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Thick, succulent, green flower stems. Leaf stems thick, green, turning woody
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Rabbits
- Salt
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
