Soapweed, Dwarf Yucca, Spanish bayonet
Yucca glauca

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A small shrub. It grows 60 cm high and spreads 90 cm wide. It forms clumps. The leaves are narrow and blue-green. There are thin straight threads along the edges. The flower stalk is 0.9 m tall. The flowers are off-white and bell shaped. Sometimes there are tinges of green or red-brown. The fruit are about 8 cm long and 1 cm wide. These capsules contain many seeds.

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

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on dry slopes. It will grow on most soils. It is resistant to frost and drought. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia, Britain, Canada, Europe, North America (country/location of origin), Tasmania, USA

How it is used for food

Immature fruit are peeled, boiled and eaten with butter and seasoning. Young flower stalks are cooked and the soft inner portion eaten. Flowers and flower buds are eaten raw in salads or used as a pot herb. The fruit are sun dried for later use.

Edible parts

Flowers, fruit, leaves, seed pod, stem

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seed. It needs a Pronuba moth for pollination.

Its other names

Local names

Adam's palm, Bear-grass, Dagger plant, Palmillo

Synonyms

Yucca angustifolia Pursh; Yucca glauca var. glauca; Yucca stenophylla Steud.; Yucca stricta Sims;