Yucca gloriosa Spanish dagger (Agavaceae) Evergreen shrub

Browse Plants Articles

Power Search!

Browse Botanic Names

Sponsored By KhorWills

Yucca gloriosa
Spanish dagger
Evergreen shrub
(1 Page of 5)

The Yucca gloriosa plant species is found in Southeastern N. America - North Carolina to Florida. Naturalized in S. Europe[50]. It is a member of the Agavaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Spanish dagger. Some home gardeners know the variety as Y. ellacombei

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Yucca gloriosa
Common Name:  Spanish dagger
Family:  Agavaceae
Author:  L.

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].

Mature Height:  1.8   Mature Width:  1.2

Habitat:  Sand dunes and the borders of beaches of the seacoast[82].

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].

For further Yucca gloriosa gardening information
click on one of the blue links below

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
View their bibliography
Useful Edible Plants Future