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Yucca schidigera - Roezl.

Common Name Mojave Yucca, Yucca
Family Agavaceae
USDA hardiness 9-10
Known Hazards The roots contain saponins[222]. Whilst saponins are quite toxic to people, they are poorly absorbed by the body and so tend to pass straight through. They are also destroyed by prolonged heat, such as slow baking in an oven. Saponins are found in many common foods such as beans[K]. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish[K].
Habitats Found in desert habitats in chaparral and creosote bush scrub from sea level to elevations of 2500 metres[276].
Range South-western N. America - California, Arizona and Nevada.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Frost Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Yucca schidigera Mojave Yucca, Yucca


commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs
Yucca schidigera Mojave Yucca, Yucca
commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Early fall. Form: Rounded.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Yucca schidigera is an evergreen Tree growing to 4.5 m (14ft 9in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Sarcoyucca mohavensis. Yucca californica. Yucca mohavensis

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds; East Wall. By. South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Fruit  Stem
Edible Uses:

Young flowering stems - chopped and cooked like asparagus[164] or baked like a sweet potato[183]. Fruit - raw or cooked[257]. Baked then dried and ground into a powder then used in soups etc or made into a drink[257]. The fruit can also be used to make jellies[183]. Flowers - raw or cooked[257]. They are delicious raw, and can also be dried, crushed and used as a flavouring[164] and can also be used in jellies[183].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Brush  Fibre  Soap

The leaves, or a fibre obtained from them, has been used for making ropes, baskets and mats[82, 169]. The strong fibres have been used to make shoes and sandals[257]. The leaves have been used to make brushes for body painting and for painting pots etc[257]. The roots are rich in saponins and can be used as a soap substitute[82, 257].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Seashore, Specimen. Thrives in any soil but prefers a sandy loam and full exposure to the south[11]. Plants are hardier when grown on poor sandy soils[200]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[200]. In the plants native environment, its flowers can only be pollinated by a certain species of moth. This moth cannot live in Britain and, if fruit and seed is required, hand pollination is necessary. This can be quite easily and successfully done using something like a small paint brush. Individual crowns are monocarpic, dying after flowering[233]. However, the crown will usually produce a number of sideshoots before it dies and these will grow on to flower in later years[233]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. Members of this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233]. Special Features: North American native.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Pre-soaking the seed for 24 hours in warm water may reduce the germination time. It usually germinates within 1 - 12 months if kept at a temperature of 20°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for at least their first two winters. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer and consider giving them some winter protection for at least their first winter outdoors - a simple pane of glass is usually sufficient[K]. Seed is not produced in Britain unless the flowers are hand pollinated. Root cuttings in late winter or early spring. Lift in April/May and remove small buds from base of stem and rhizomes. Dip in dry wood ashes to stop any bleeding and plant in a sandy soil in pots in a greenhouse until established[78].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: United States (Arizona, California, Nevada), Mexico (Baja California (Norte))

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Roezl.

Botanical References

200

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Teresa Seed   Fri Mar 7 2008

I am surprised to see no therapeutic uses listed for this plant. See the link below and one or two more from googling the plant.

T & J Enterprises Commercial site selling yucca schidigera detailing many therapeutic uses.

Sam   Wed Nov 4 2009

Another use for this plant: one of my horticulture instructors said that Yucca extract is used as a wetting agent. This has at least two applications in caring for other plants: - Applying various sprays to plants that do not wet well, such as collards or any hairy leaf. - Irrigating hydrophobic soil, such as compost that has dried out too thoroughly, or areas where grass is stressed by a "faery ring" fungus. More research may be necessary to determine whether yucca extract is a useful substitute for synthetic surfactants.

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