Yucca baccata filifera (Chabaud) Schelle
Yucca canaliculata filifera (Chabaud) Franceschi
A mature specimen with many branches
Photograph by: Jigsaww
A mature specimen with many branches
Photograph by: Jigsaww
Younger plants can be unbranched
Photograph by: Matthieu Sontag
GNU Free Documentation License
Middle-aged trees developing the multi-branched form
Photograph by: c299792458
Yucca filifera is a evergreen tree that can grow up to 10 metres tall. The tree is sometimes multi-stemmed; the stems can be unbranched but more commonly becoming multi-branched as it ages. Each branch bears a cluster of spear-shaped leaves uo to 55cm long and 4cm wide towards its tip and, in the summer, large clusters of white flowers[
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. The roots of Yucca species are rich in saponins and have a wide range of applications. The plant is often grown as an ornamental and a street tree, valued for its shape and floral display.
The roots contain saponins[
]. 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[
]. 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[
Southern N. America - northern to southern Mexico.
Dry or stony soils, Blue ridge and Appalachian provinces, Alabama to North Carolina[
|Other Uses Rating||
|Cultivation Status||Ornamental, Wild
Yucca filifera is a plant of semi-arid regions in southern N. America and, although capable of tolerating occasional short-lived temperatures down to around -5°c, does not grow very well in moist climates, being especially intolerant of winter wet[
]. Another report says that it can tolerate occasional temperatures to about -30°c so long as the climate is dry[
Thrives in any soil but prefers a sandy loam and full exposure to the south[
]. Can succeed in light shade[
]. Plants are hardier when grown on poor sandy soils[
]. Established plants are very drought resistant[
The leaves can be damaged by strong winds[
Easily transplanted while young or still without massive limbs. The plant is often salvaged from developing areas to line fence rows and roads in its native range.
Yuccas are pollinated by small, white Yucca moths (Tegeticula yucasella and related species) with which they have a special plant-insect mutualism. At night, the fragrant flowers attract the female moth that feeds on the nectar. She then rolls pollen from the flowers into a ball that is three times the size of her head and carries the pollen ball to the next flower. There, she first lays eggs inside the immature ovary and then deposits the pollen on the flower’s stigma ensuring that seeds will form to feed her progeny. Because the larvae mature before they are able to consume all of
the seeds (60 to 80% of the seeds remain viable), the plants are able to reproduce as well[
]. In regions where the moth cannot live and, if fruit and seed are required, then 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[
]. However, the crown will usually produce a number of sideshoots before it dies and these will grow on to flower in about four years[
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[
Members of this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[
Fruit - raw or cooked.
Flowers - raw or cooked. Delicious raw, they can also be dried, crushed and used as a flavouring[
Flowering stem - cooked and used like asparagus[
The roots are antiinflammatory, antitumor, antiviral[
The roots of Yucca species are rich in saponins and medicinally active compounds. The roots, harvested when the plant is not in flower, are used to make a health-promoting drink. It has been shown to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood, to lower blood pressure and to reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis such as pain, swelling and stiffness. Yucca schidigera seems to be the species most often quoted, though all species contain the saponins[
Taken orally, the root is used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, hypertension, migraine headaches, colitis, stomach disorders, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, poor circulation, and liver and gallbladder disorders[
Applied topically, it is used to treat sores, skin diseases, inflammation, bleeding, sprains, broken limbs, joint pain, baldness, and dandruff[
Many compounds from yucca have been used in the synthesis of new drugs[
A fibre obtained from the leaves is used for making ropes, baskets and mats[
The roots are rich in saponins and can be used as a soap substitute[
The juice of the plant has a wide variety of uses. In agriculture it is used as a base in liquid fertilizers where its ability to reduce surface tension of irrigation water greatly assists penetration in heavy soils; it assists in soil flocculation to a marked degree; it serves as a carrying agent for the plant-food chemicals[
]. The yucca extract itself is rich in the vital minor elements including boron, iron, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc[
The juice is said to be widely used as a carbon dioxide stabilizer in the control of oil fires, and saponin from yucca is considered a good base for soaps, shampoos, cleansing powders, and tooth pastes and powders[
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 mid spring 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.