Yucca rostrata

11 Nov

Yucca rostrata (18/10/2014, Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid)

Position: Full sun

Flowering period: Late summer

Soil: Dry, well drained

Eventual Height: 5m

Eventual Spread: 1.8m

Hardiness: 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11

Family: Asparagaceae

Sub Family: Agavoideae

Yucca rostrata is a slow growing evergreen shrub with a spiky upright habit . Its grey/ blue leaves are lanceolate with sharply serrulate margins, up to 90cm long, 15mm broad and appear as a symmetrical rosette. Its dead leaves remain on the trunk and are pendulous. Its white flowers are bell shaped and appear as erect panicles.

Yucca rostrata Leaf (18/10/2014, Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid)

Yucca rostrata, commonly known as Beaked Yucca, Big Bend Yucca, is native to south west USA and north west Mexico. in it native habitat this plant grows in scrubby desert conditions.

The etymological root of the binomial name Yucca is derived from the Carib (indigenous people of the Caribbean) name for cassava (misapplied to this plant). Rostrata is derived from the Latin rostrum meaning ‘beak’.

The landscape architect may find Yucca rostrata useful as an architectural specimen shrub suitable for xeriscaping planting schemes. Once established this plant is drought tollerant.

Ecologically, Yucca rostrata flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.