Yucca

Spanish bayonet, Adam’s needle

Message of the Flower

Initiation

The Mother’s Comment

It is unique in the whole existence of the plant.

Colour

White

Family

Agavaceae

Cultivars

Bright Edge', 'Color Guard'

Person who named the flower

Carl Linnaeus

Flower Size

2-4 inches long

Flower Texture

Waxy, tough

Number of Petals

6 tepals (petal-like sepals)

Floral Symmetry

Radial

Fragrance of Flower

Often fragrant, especially at night

Leaf Texture

Rigid, sword-shaped, sharp-edged

Leaf Arrangement

Rosette, spirally arranged

Leaf Color

Green, sometimes variegated or with white/cream edges

Structural Variation (Shrub or Tree)

Both shrub-like and tree-like forms

Life Cycle

Perennial

Blooming Period

Late spring to summer

Climate

Arid to semi-arid, temperate to subtropical

Water Requirements

Low, drought-tolerant

Soil Type

Well-drained, sandy to rocky

Temperature Ranges

USDA zones 4 through 11

Sun or Shade

Full sun

Susceptibility to Insects and Diseases

Root rot, Yucca moth

Pollinators

Yucca moth

Habitat

Southwest U.S., Mexico, arid Americas

Role in the Ecosystem

Shelter and food for wildlife, food for Yucca moth

Quotations

Desert life and survival

Ornamental

Xeriscaping and drought-resistant gardens

Uses in Other Aspects of Life

Natural soaps and shampoos

Endangered Status

At risk due to habitat loss and over-collection