FNPS Plant Database

Yucca gloriosa

Spanish dagger, moundlily yucca
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Roger Hammer, Dade Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Roger Hammer, Dade Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

Spanish dagger, moundlily yucca

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Yucca gloriosa

Family:

Agavaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

Shrub

Size:

2–3 (8) ft tall by 2–3 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

white

Fruit Color:

green

Phenology:

Evergreen

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Showy Fruits, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Specimen plant. Forms a large rosette of spine-tipped leaves. Flower stalks rise to 6-8 ft.

Considerations:

Spine-tipped leave are very sharp.

Availability:

Native Nurseries

Propagation:

Stem cuttings, rhizomes, seed.

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Not wet but not extremely dry -to- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salt

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B,11

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

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Vouchered In:

Distribution
Vouchered
Not vouchered
Selected
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Starting…
Map coded by Melissa Fernandez-de Cespedes (Paynes Prairie Chapter)

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Butterflies, Caterpillars

Pollinated by moths though hummingbirds may be attracted to the nectar. Larval host plant for cofaqui giant skipper (Megathymus cofaqui) and yucca giant skipper (Megathymus yuccae) butterflies. Nectar plant for great southern white (Ascia monuste) and other butterflies. Pollinated by yucca moths.

Provides wildlife cover.

Native Habitats:

Cultivated. Dry sites

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Fruit and flowers are edible.

General Comments:

FNPS Plant Print

Citations:

Marr, D. L., J. Leebens-Mack, L. Elms, and O. Pellmyr. (2000). Pollen dispersal in Yucca filamentosa (Agavaceae): the paradox of self-pollination behavior by Tegeticula yuccasella (Prodoxidae). American journal of botany, 87(5), 670–677. ( https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10811791/. Accessed 2026.


Minno, Marc, and Maria Minno. (1999). Florida Butterfly Gardening: A Complete Guide to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Butterflies. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, FL.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL.

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