Twisted-leaf yucca
Yucca rupicola

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A shrub without a stem and with a ring of spiny leaves. The leaves are sword shaped and twisted. They are 35-60 cm long by 1.4-7 cm wide. They are widest near the middle and are fleshy. The flowers hang down. They are white or greenish. The fruit are erect and cylinder shaped. They are 4-5.5 cm long. The seeds are dull black and 6-8 mm across.

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

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

North America, USA

How it is used for food

The flowers can be eaten raw or cooked. They can also be dried and crushed and used as flavouring.

Edible parts

Flowers, fruit, stem

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Yucca lutescens Carriere; Yucca rupicola var. tortifolia Engelm.; Yucca tortifolia Lindh. ex Torr.; Yucca tortilis Carriere;