Common Name: Plains Yucca

General Information

Yucca campestris is an evergreen, succulent, rosette-forming perennial plant usually stemless, occasionally with a short, stem around 60 - 100cm long. The plant suckers to form small to large colonies of rosettes, individual leaves being around 40 - 65cm long and 3 - 15mm wide[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of fibre. It is grown as an ornamental in semi-arid regions[].
The population of Yucca campestris has been decreasing as a result of habitat loss due to agriculture since the 1950's. In addition, threats such as oil and gas development and more recently, fracking are causing rapid land and ecosystem degradation in areas were healthy subpopulations used to be found. Furthermore, this species has other threats including intensification of aridity as a result of climate change, effects of recreational activities using off road vehicles and invasive species. These threats also affect the obligate pollinator of the species which pupates underground as part of its life cycle. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2020)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southwestern N. America - western Texas, southeast New Mexico

Habitat

Deep sands and sand dunes, growing in desert scrub and grassland vegetation; at elevations from 800 - 900 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	1.00 m
Pollinators	Moths
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

The species produces flowers at approximately 10 years and may live up to a 100 years[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A fibre is obtained from the leaves[].

Propagation

Seed -