| Common Name |
Banana Yucca, Datil Yucca, Broadleaf Yucca |
| Latin Name |
Yucca baccata |
| Family |
Agavaceae |
| Sunset zones / USDA zones |
All / 5-12 |
| Type / Form |
Succulent / Medium |
| Native Habitat |
Southwest deserts 3,500 to 7,500 feet |
| Soil |
Dry, decomposed granite, sand, clay loam low in organic
content, well drained |
| Exposure |
Full sun |
| Water |
Once or none per moth or none depending on soil |
| Height X Width |
4 feet X 4 feet, 10 feet X 10 feet rare |
| Protective Mechanism |
Spines on leaves |
| Leaves |
Evergreen, grayish green, fibers curl off |
| Flowers |
Very attractive, creamy
white, bell-shaped, 6-petaled, up to 4 inches long, borne on a 3 foot
tall upright woody inflorescence, appearing in late spring. |
| Bark / Roots |
Gray-brown, initially covered with brown dead
leaves. |
| Maintenance |
May need trimming |
| 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. 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. Division of suckers in late spring. Larger divisions can be
planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it
is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a
greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them
out in the following spring. |
| Pests and diseases |
None |
| Landscape uses |
Erosion control, container, rock garden, background |
| Garden Suitability |
Sonoran, Songbird, Ethnobotanical |
| Ornamental Value |
Gray/green leaves, white, greenish, reddish flowers
in spring |
| Nature Value |
Birds use flowers and seeds |
| Native American Uses |
Flowers, roots, fruit, and stems eaten, fruit dried and
made into a drink; fiber from leaves used for cordage, baskets, mats,
pint brushes; spines used for needles, roots used for soap |
| Links |
|
| Images and data |
http://cals.arizona.edu/pima/gardening/aridplants/Yucca_baccata.html |
| Images and data |
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/DENDROLOGY/Syllabus2/factsheet.cfm?ID=588 |
| Images and data |
http://www.desertusa.com/mag00/jun/papr/agave.html |
| Images and data |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yucca_baccata |
| Images and data |
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=yuba |
| Images and data |
http://www.explorenm.com/plants/Agavaceae/Yucca/baccata/ |
| Images and data |
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/yucbac/all.html |
| Images and data |
http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Agavaceae/Yucca_baccata.html |
| Images and data |
http://www.delange.org/YuccaBanana/YuccaBanana.htm |
| Images and data |
http://www.theodorepayne.org/mediawiki/index.php?title=Yucca_baccata |
| Images |
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?where-taxon=Yucca+baccata |
| Data |
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Yucca+baccata |
| Data |
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242102056 |
| Data |
http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Yucca+baccata |
| Images, nursery, and
data |
http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/yucca-baccata |
| Seeds, images, and
data |
http://www.plantsofthesouthwest.com/cgi-bin/plantview.cgi?_recordnum=1309 |
| Distribution map |
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=YUBA |
| Nursery |
Oak Hills Nursery, 13874 Ranchero Road, Oak Hills, 92345,
760-947-6261 |
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