Spanish Dagger, moundlily yucca, Palm Lily, Roman Candle, Mound Lily Yucca, Spanish Dagger

Yucca gloriosa

Physical Characteristics

Yucca gloriosa is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1.8 m (6ft) by 1.2 m (4ft in) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from July to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Hand. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Distribution

South-eastern N. America - North Carolina to Florida. Naturalized in S. Europe[50].

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Fruit Root Stem Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or cooked. The fruit is up to 10cm long and 26mm wide[229]. The fruit is very rarely produced in the wild[82]. Flowers - raw or cooked. They are delicious raw, and can also be dried, crushed and used as a flavouring[164]. Flowering stem - cooked and used like asparagus[164]. Root - cooked. It can be dried, ground into a powder and made into a bread[105].

Medicinal Uses

Detergent Purgative The fruit is purgative[240]. The root is detergent[240].

Known Hazards

The roots contain saponins[222]. Whilst saponins are quite toxic to people, they are poorly absorbed by the body and so tend to pass straight through. They are also destroyed by prolonged heat, such as slow baking in an oven. Saponins are found in many common foods such as beans[K]. Saponins are much more toxic to some 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[K].