Candle yucca
Yucca gloriosa

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 1.8-2.5 m high and spreads 1.2-1.8 m wide. The trunk is woody. The leaves form a ring at the ends of branches and are blue-green to dark green. The leaves are 60 cm long. They have spines at the tips. The flowers form a spike of bell-shaped flowers. These are creamy-white to pink and can be 1.8 m high. They are at the ends of branches and on a stout stem. They are 40-60 cm long. The fruit has 6 ribs. but does not split when dry.

There are about 40 Yucca species. Also put in the family Agavaceae.

Where it is found

It grows on sand dunes in Mediterranean regions. It can tolerate salt exposure. In Melbourne Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 7-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Britain, Central America, China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Europe, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mediterranean, Mexico, Micronesia, Myanmar, North America (country/location of origin), Pacific, SE Asia, South America, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

CAUTION: The fruit are purgative. A starch is extracted from the rhizome. The flowers are eaten raw or cooked.

Edible parts

Flowers, fruit, root, stem

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Bayoneta, Bunga lilin putih, Bunga tombak raja, Chii-hup, Cucaracha, Du ca, Espino, Fengweilan, Huali Silan, Magnificent Silk Orchid, Moundlily Yucca, Palm lily, Phoenix-tail Orchid, Roman candle, Spanish dagger

Synonyms

Yucca acuminata Sweet; Yucca acutifolia Truff. Yucca ellacombei Baker; Yucca ensifolia Groenl.; Yucca gloriosa var. gloriosa; and others