Yucca aloifolia
Photographs belong to the photographers who allow use for FNPS purposes only. Please contact the photographer for all other uses.
Spanish Bayonet, Aloe Yucca
Agavaceae
Plant Specifics
| Form: | Shrub | |
| Size: | 5-10 ft tall by 3-6 ft wide | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | White | |
| Fruit Color: | Green | |
| Phenology: | Evergreen, primarily blooms in spring. Life span 50+ yrs. (Nelson 2003). | |
| Noted for: | Showy flowers, Showy fruits, Interesting foliage |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Specimen plant. Hedge--makes a good barrier. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Considerations: | Leaves have very sharp tips. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | Seed. Division though avoid those sharp leaves! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | Native nurseries, Seed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (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 inundation with brackish water | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
Provides wildlife cover
| |
| Insects: | Provides food and cover for wildlife.Larval host plant for cofaqui giant skipper (Megathymus cofaqui) and yucca giant skipper (Megathymus yuccae) butterflies. Pollinated by yucca moths. Nectar plant for great southern white (Ascia monuste) and other butterflies. | |
| Native Habitats: | Wet flatwoods, sand dunes, disturbed sites. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
10A 10B 11 8A 8B 9A 9B
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures
Comments
| Ethnobotany: | The flowers can be served as a salad or cooked and the fruit is eaten in some cultures. Pioneers made rope and string from the fibrous leaves. |