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Summary
Yucca treculiana, commonly known as Spanish dagger, is a striking succulent native to Texas, New Mexico, and northern Mexico. It is notable for its tall flower stalks, sharp-tipped leaves, and dramatic clusters of white blooms. The plant is edible in several parts: the flower stalks can be roasted when young, the fleshy fruits were an important traditional food source for Indigenous peoples and can be eaten roasted, baked, or dried, and the flowers themselves are also edible, with a mildly sweet flavor when prepared correctly. However, the roots are rich in saponins and are not edible. Beyond food use, Yucca treculiana provided important fiber from its long, tough leaves, traditionally made into cordage, mats, baskets, sandals, and ropes. Its roots were also used as a source of natural soap and shampoo due to their high saponin content, hence the common name “soapweed.” Medicinally, it was occasionally applied externally for skin irritations and inflammation. Today, it remains valued for ornamental landscaping in dry regions, providing dramatic architectural form in xeriscapes. Ecologically, its flowers are pollinated by yucca moths, which are essential to its reproduction. USDA hardiness range: zones 7–11. Weed potential: low; it is slow-growing, long-lived, and not invasive, though it can form dense local stands.
Physical Characteristics
Yucca treculiana is an evergreen Tree growing to 10 m (32ft) by 4 m (13ft) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8 and is not frost tender. The flowers are pollinated by Yucca moths (Tegeticula spp, ).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil 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 and can tolerate drought.
UK Hardiness Map
US Hardiness Map
Synonyms
Homotypic Synonyms: Sarcoyucca treculiana (Carrière) Linding.
Plant Habitats
Edible Uses
Yucca treculiana (Spanish dagger, don Quixote’s lance) is an edible desert plant native to Texas, New Mexico, and northeastern Mexico, growing well in USDA Hardiness Zones 7–11. The young flower stalks and unopened buds can be boiled or roasted, while the flowers themselves may be eaten raw or cooked, though they are mildly bitter unless prepared properly. The large fleshy fruits were a traditional food for Native American peoples, usually roasted or baked, and the roasted seeds can be ground into meal or flour. The roots, however, contain saponins and are not edible, having been used historically for making soap rather than food.
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.
References More on Medicinal Uses
The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books
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Other Uses
Beyond its edible flowers, fruits, and flower stalks, Yucca treculiana has several other traditional uses. The long, fibrous leaves were used by Indigenous peoples for making cordage, baskets, mats, sandals, and ropes. The roots, rich in saponins, were pounded and mixed with water to produce a natural soap or shampoo, giving rise to the common name “soapweed.” Today, it is also valued as an ornamental plant in xeriscaping for its striking spiky leaves and towering flower stalks, while its flowers provide nectar for yucca moths (its pollinators) and other wildlife.
Special Uses
References More on Other Uses
Cultivation details
Water Preferences: Mesic Dry Mesic, Dry. Sun, light shade, well-drained soil, drought-tolerant. Upper elevation limit: 1,684 metres. Lower elevation limit: 297 metres. This species is threatened in parts of its range by oil and gas exploration, wind energy infrastructure development, solar farms, groundwater pumping for agriculture, and droughts. Range & Hardiness: Native to Texas, New Mexico, and northeastern Mexico. USDA Hardiness Zones 7–11. Weed potential: Low. It’s a slow-growing desert species, not considered invasive.
References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information
Temperature Converter
Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:
Fahrenheit:
The PFAF Bookshop
Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).
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Plant Propagation
Seed
Other Names
If available other names are mentioned here
Spanish dagger, Spanish bayonet and Don Quixote's lance.
Native Range
Native to: Mexico Northeast, New Mexico, Texas.
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.
Low. This is a native species that grows in desert and foothill habitats, not known to be invasive.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : Least Concern.
| Related Plants
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| Latin Name | Common Name | Habit | Height | Hardiness | Growth | Soil | Shade | Moisture | Edible | Medicinal | Other |
| Hesperaloe funifera | New Mexico false yucca | Perennial | 1.8 |
6-9
| S | LM | N | DM | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Yucca aloifolia | Spanish Bayonet, Aloe yucca, Dagger Plant, Yucca, Spanish Bayonet | Tree | 7.5 |
8-10
| S | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Yucca angustissima | Narrowleaf yucca, Kanab yucca, Toft's yucca, Yucca | Shrub | 0.4 |
4-9
| S | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Yucca baccata | Spanish Bayonet, Banana yucca, Blue Yucca, Spanish Yucca | Shrub | 0.9 |
6-11
| S | LMH | N | DM | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Yucca brevifolia | Joshua Tree, Jaeger's Joshua tree, Yucca, Joshua Tree | Tree | 9.0 |
9-11
| M | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Yucca constricta | Buckley's Yucca | Perennial | 1.5 |
8-11
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Yucca elata | Soap Tree, Soaptree yucca, Soapweed, Soapweed Yucca | Shrub | 2.0 |
9-11
| S | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Yucca filamentosa | Spoonleaf Yucca, Adam's needle, Desert Candle, Needle Palm, St. Peter's Palm, Spanish Bayonet, Comm | Shrub | 1.2 |
4-10
| M | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Yucca filifera | | Shrub | 10.0 |
6-9
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Yucca gigantea | Spineless yucca, Izote | Tree | 6.0 |
9-11
| F | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Yucca glauca | Soapweed, Soapweed yucca, Gurney's yucca, American Vetch, Yucca, Narrowleaf Yucca, Soapweed | Shrub | 1.5 |
4-10
| S | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Yucca gloriosa | Spanish Dagger, moundlily yucca, Palm Lily, Roman Candle, Mound Lily Yucca, Spanish Dagger | Shrub | 1.8 |
6-11
| S | LM | SN | DM | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Yucca harrimaniae | Spanish Bayonet, New Mexico Spanish bayonet | Shrub | 0.4 |
6-9
| S | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Yucca recurvifolia | Curve-leaf yucca | Shrub | 2.5 |
7-10
| | LMH | SN | DM | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Yucca rupicola | Twisted-Leaf Yucca, Texas yucca | Shrub | 0.6 |
8-11
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Yucca schidigera | Mojave Yucca, Yucca | Tree | 4.5 |
9-10
| | LMH | N | DM | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Yucca smalliana | Adam's Needle, Weak-leaf yucca | Shrub | 1.2 |
8-11
| | LMH | SN | DM | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Yucca whipplei | Our Lord's Candle | Shrub | 2.0 |
7-11
| S | LMH | S | DM | 3 | 0 | 3 |
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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.
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Expert comment
Author
Carrière
Botanical References
Links / References
For a list of references used on this page please go here
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Subject : Yucca treculiana
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