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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