This species is closely related to Yucca gloriosa[].

Common Name: Spanish Bayonet

General Information

Yucca aloifolia is an erect, succulent, evergreen tree growing up to 8 metres tall[]. The plant forms 1 - 3 main stems, each topped by a rosette of spear-shaped leaves 12 - 40cm long and 25 - 60mm wide. The stem can be free of branches, but is sometimes sparsely to densely branched[, ].
The plant has a wide range of traditional uses, providing food, medicines and a range of commodities. It is harvested from the wild for local use. The roots of Yucca species are rich in saponins and have a wide range of applications. A very ornamental plant, it is often grown in gardens[]

Known Hazards

The roots contain saponins[].
Although poisonous, saponins also have a range of medicinal applications and many saponin-rich plants are used in herbalism (particularly as emetics, expectorants and febrifuges) or as sources of raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. Saponins are also found in a number of common foods, such as many beans.
Saponins have a quite bitter flavour and are in general poorly absorbed by the human body, so most pass through without harm. They can be removed by carefully leaching in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of raw foods that contain saponins.
Saponins are much more toxic to many cold-blooded creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish and make them easy to catch[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Caribbean - Cuba to Dominican Republic; Southern N. America - Mexico, Texas to Florida, north to N. Carolina.

Habitat

Sand dunes of the coast, occasionally up to 60 km inland, in pine forests[]. Also found on the margins of brackish marshes[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	7.50 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Yucca aloifolia is a plant of the warm temperate to tropical zones, usually found at low elevations. It tolerates occasional temperatures down to about -10°c if in a suitable site[, ].
Thrives in any soil but prefers a sandy loam and full exposure to the sun[]. Plants can succeed in light shade[]. Plants are hardier when grown on poor sandy soils[]. Established plants are very drought resistant[].
Members of this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].
The flowers of most members of this genus can only be pollinated by a certain species of moth. This moth does not live outside of the plants native range and, if fruit and seed is required, hand pollination is necessary. This can be quite easily and successfully done using something like a small paint brush. This species, however, does not require the Yucca moth for pollination and will set fruit without hand pollination[]. The flowers open at night[] and are powerfully fragrant at this time[].
Individual crowns are monocarpic, dying after flowering[]. However, the crown will usually produce a number of side shoots before it dies and these will grow on to flower in later years[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
Several named forms have been developed for their ornamental value[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. A thick, succulent mass of bitter-sweet juicy flesh[]. The fruit is up to 10 cm long and 4cm wide[].

Flowers - raw or cooked[]. Eaten as a vegetable[]. They are delicious raw, or can be dried, crushed and used as a flavouring. A crisp texture[].

Flowering stem - peeled and boiled[, ]. Used like asparagus.

Yucca root extract is used as a foaming and flavoring agent in carbonated beverages[].

Medicinal

The fruit is purgative[].

The roots are antiinflammatory, antitumor, antiviral[].
The roots of Yucca species are rich in saponins and medicinally active compounds. The roots, harvested when the plant is not in flower, are used to make a health-promoting drink. It has been shown to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood, to lower blood pressure and to reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis such as pain, swelling and stiffness. Yucca schidigera seems to be the species most often quoted, though all species contain the saponins[, ].
Taken orally, the root is used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, hypertension, migraine headaches, colitis, stomach disorders, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, poor circulation, and liver and gallbladder disorders[].
Applied topically, it is used to treat sores, skin diseases, inflammation, bleeding, sprains, broken limbs, joint pain, baldness, and dandruff[].
The boiled and mashed root, mixed with oil, has been used as a salve in the treatment of various complaints[].

The plant is used in the treatment of earache[].

Ethanolic extracts from the leaves contain saponins and possess anti-inflammatory activity[].
Many compounds from yucca have been used in the synthesis of new drugs[].

Other Uses

A hard fibre obtained from the leaves is used for making ropes, baskets and mats[, ].

Narrow, split leaf strips have been used as sewing material for coiled plaques[].

The leaves have been used in several types of basketry[].

The leaf splints have been used as brushes to apply colour to pottery[].

The leaves can be split and used as a temporary string[].

The roots are rich in saponins and can be used as a soap substitute[]. They are crushed and then placed in water to form suds that are used in bathing and shampooing[].

The juice from the plant has been used as a varnish[].
The juice of the plant has a wide variety of uses. In agriculture it is used as a base in liquid fertilizers where its ability to reduce surface tension of irrigation water greatly assists penetration in heavy soils; it assists in soil flocculation to a marked degree; it serves as a carrying agent for the plant-food chemicals[]. The yucca extract itself is rich in the vital minor elements including boron, iron, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc[].
The juice is said to be widely used as a carbon dioxide stabilizer in the control of oil fires, and saponin from yucca is considered a good base for soaps, shampoos, cleansing powders, and tooth pastes and powders[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Pre-soaking the seed for 24 hours in warm water may reduce the germination time. It usually germinates within 1 - 12 months if kept at a temperature of 20°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for at least their first two winters. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer and consider giving them some winter protection for at least their first winter outdoors - a simple pane of glass is usually sufficient[].
Root cuttings in late winter or early spring. Lift in mid spring and remove small buds from base of stem and rhizomes. Dip in dry wood ashes to stop any bleeding and plant in a sandy soil in pots in a greenhouse until established[].