What is a yucca plant?
A yucca plant, formally speaking, is any member of the genus Yucca. Some other plants, like the red yucca, Hesperaloe parviflora They belong to other taxa. They belong to the Asparagaceae family, along with asparagus and several other lesser-known plants. Yucca plants are native to Central America and the southwestern United States, north to the regions surrounding the Rocky Mountains in the Dakotas, and southern Canada. They will grow in many other parts of the world and will be able to acclimate to virtually anywhere in the continental United States.
A typical yucca plant consists of a rosette of stiff green leaves. Both the edges and the tips of the leaves are very sharp and can easily cut through human flesh, so it is very important to wear protection if you ever need to handle a yucca plant. The leaves are about 3/4 meter long. They may have slightly curled hairs around the edges, giving the plant a frayed appearance. In various species, such as cassava elephantipes, the leaf rosette is located on top of a tall, trunk-like structure from which the previous leaves have fallen. The entire plant can be up to 8 meters tall. These taller yuccas are commonly known as “Joshua trees.” Each season, a mature yucca plant will develop a tall spike with many white flowers. These flowers give off a soapy aroma, giving yucca its other common name, the soap plant. The roots form fat tubers, somewhat resembling very large potatoes. These can be dug up and eaten (although this will obviously kill the plant) if cooked similar to potatoes.
During the colder months, the yucca will go through a dormant phase during which the leaves and flower stem will die back. During this phase, the plant stores nutrients in its starchy tubers. It can tolerate very cold temperatures during this phase (some species will survive temperatures as low as -30 F). The leaves will return the following growing season when the temperature rises again.
If you want to grow a yucca, be sure to provide it with plenty of light and good drainage. Watering a yucca plant is usually not necessary unless you are growing it indoors. You can water it up to twice a month, but make sure the soil has a chance to dry out between waterings. Yucca plants are highly adaptable and difficult to kill, making them excellent ornamental plants for the home or garden.