| Common Name |
Mojave Yucca, Spanish Dagger |
| Latin Name |
Yucca schidigera |
| Family |
Agavaceae |
| Sunset zones / USDA zones |
7-16, 18-24 / |
| Type / Form |
Succulent / Medium |
| Native Habitat |
Creosote bush scrub below 8,000 feet in
southern Mojave Desert |
| Soil |
Dry, decomposed granite, sand, clay loam
low in organic content, well drained |
| Water |
None |
| Exposure |
Full sun |
| Height X Width |
Maximum 15 X 10 feet with a trunk,
usually 5 feet X 4 feet including flower stalk |
| Protective Mechanism |
Spines |
| Leaves |
Evergreen, stiff and sword-like, numerous
at the ends of branches, 12 to 24 inches long, sharp pointed tip, edges
fibrous, blue-green to yellow-green, with up-curled edges. |
| Flowers |
Bell-shaped, 1 1/2 inch long,
creamy white and often purple-tinged, crowded on long stalks on an
upright branched cluster 1 1/2 feet tall, appearing in spring to early
summer. Fruit green changing to dark brown capsule, 3 to 4 inches long,
1 inch in diameter, 6 celled, initially fleshy and becoming leathery,
maturing late summer. |
| Bark / Roots |
Gray-brown, initially covered with brown dead leaves, later irregularly
rough and scaly to ridged. |
| Maintenance |
Low |
| 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. 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. |
| Pests and diseases |
|
| Landscape uses |
Erosion control, rock garden, low maintenance |
| Garden Suitability |
Songbird, Moonlight, Ethnobotanical |
| Nature Value |
Seeds eaten by many animals, larval plant for
butterflies |
| Native American Uses |
Rope, sandals, stems and fruits eaten, roots used for
soap, leaves used in basketry |
| Links |
|
| Article |
http://www.yucca.com.mx/yuccaen.html |
| Images |
http://www.oceanlight.com/lightbox.php?sp=yucca_schidigera |
| Images and data |
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/yucsch/all.html |
| Images and data |
http://www.yucca.com.mx/yuccaen.html |
| Images and data |
http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=8376 |
| Images and data |
http://mojavedesert.net/plants/shrubs/yucca-schidigera.html |
| Images and data |
http://www.mojavenp.org/yucca_schidigera_mojave_national_preserve.htm |
| Images and data |
http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Yucca+schidigera |
| Images and data |
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yucca_schidigera |
| Images and data |
http://www.cnr.vt.edu/DENDRO/DENDROLOGY/Syllabus2/factsheet.cfm?ID=591 |
| Images and data |
http://www.desertusa.com/oct96/du_myucca.html |
| Nursery, images and data |
http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/695.htm |
| Data |
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242102075 |
| Distribution map |
http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=8806&flora_id=1 |
