Mojave Yucca, Yucca

Yucca schidigera

Physical Characteristics

Yucca schidigera is an evergreen Tree growing to 4.5 m (14ft 9in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in leaf all year. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

Distribution

South-western N. America - California, Arizona and Nevada.

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds; East Wall. By. South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers Fruit Stem Edible Uses: Young flowering stems - chopped and cooked like asparagus[164] or baked like a sweet potato[183]. Fruit - raw or cooked[257]. Baked then dried and ground into a powder then used in soups etc or made into a drink[257]. The fruit can also be used to make jellies[183]. Flowers - raw or cooked[257]. They are delicious raw, and can also be dried, crushed and used as a flavouring[164] and can also be used in jellies[183].

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].