Soap weed, Soap tree yucca
Yucca elata

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 3 m high and spreads 1.5 m wide. It develops suckers. There are several stems covered with old dead leaves. The new leaves are light green. There are fine hairs along the edge. The flower stalk is 1.8 m high. The flowers are creamy white with pink and green tints.

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

Where it is found

It is a subtropical to tropical plant. It suits hardiness zones 9-11.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Central America, Mexico, North America, USA

How it is used for food

The flowers are eaten raw or in preserves. The fruit are edible raw or cooked. An extract from the roots is used to produce foam in drinks.

Edible parts

Flowers, fruit, seed pod, stem

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Palmella, Soap tree

Synonyms

Yucca angustifolia var. elata Engelm.; Yucca angustifolia var. radiosa Englem.; Yucca elata var. elata; Yucca radiosa (Engelm.) Trel.;