Spanish Bayonet, New Mexico Spanish bayonet

Yucca harrimaniae

Physical Characteristics

Yucca harrimaniae is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.4 m (1ft 4in) at a slow rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in leaf all year. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Hand. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) 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 tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Distribution

Central N. America - Utah to Colorado.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Fruit Stem Edible Uses: Fruit - the immature fruit is cooked. A bitter taste, but most of the bitterness is in the skin[85]. Flowers - raw or cooked[85]. They are delicious raw, and can also be dried, crushed and used as a flavouring[164]. Flowering stem - peeled, cooked and used like asparagus[164]. The whitish inner portion is eaten[85].

Medicinal Uses

None known

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].