Yucca filamentosa
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Adam's Needle, Beargrass
Agavaceae
Also known as Yucca smalliana
Plant Specifics
| Form: | Shrub | |
| Size: | 3-8 (12) ft tall by 3-4 ft wide | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | White | |
| Fruit Color: | Green | |
| Phenology: | Evergreen, blooms early summer. Life span less than 50 yrs. (Nelson 2003). | |
| Noted for: | Showy flowers, Interesting foliage |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Specimen plant. Low hedge. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Considerations: | The leaves have hard, sharp points. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | Seed or cuttings. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales, Seed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| (Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Somewhat moist, no flooding ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance: | Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray would be uncommon (major storms). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil or other substrate: | Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil pH: | Acidic to neutral | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
Provides wildlife cover | |
| Insects: | Larval host plant for cofaqui giant skipper (Megathymus cofaqui) and yucca giant skipper (Megathymus yuccae) butterflies. Pollinated by yucca moths. | |
| Native Habitats: | Dry sites. Scrub, scrubby flatwoods. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 8A 8B 9A 9B
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
| Ethnobotany: | Yucca fruit can be cooked and eaten after the seeds are removed; the large petals are used in salads. Fibrous leaves were pulled apart and used for making rope or twine. | |
| General Comments: | Leaves have sharp spiny tips. |