Practical
Plants

Yucca glauca

Soapweed

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Agavaceae
Genus
Yucca
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
1.5 m
Spread
0.5 m
Fertility
Hand
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Hand

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

The roots contain saponins[13]. 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].

Edible uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[9][19][21][4][16]. Dry, with a bitter skin[25]. The fruit can be baked and either eaten immediately or formed into cakes and dried for later use[16]. The raw fruit can be dried for winter use[1][16]. The immature fruits are peeled, boiled and served with seasonings[8]. The soaked, cooked fruit can be made into a syrup and used like hot chocolate[16]. The fruit is up to 8cm long and 12mm wide[9]. Flowers and flower buds - raw or cooked[21][25]. Delicious raw, they can also be dried, crushed and used as a flavouring[5]. A delicious addition to the salad bowl, or used as a potherb[8]. Flowering stem - raw or cooked[22][25][4][16]. It can be cooked and used like asparagus[5]. The white inner portion of the stem is eaten[8]. Seedpods - cooked. They can be boiled or roasted and used as a vegetable[16]. The plant crowns have been roasted and eaten in times of food shortage[16].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Leaves
Plant part
Seedpod
Plant part
Stem

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

A soap made from the crushed roots is said to be an effective treatment for dandruff and skin irritations[12][13]. A cold infusion of the root has been used to expedite the delivery of a child or the placenta[16]. The root is poulticed and applied to inflammations, wounds, bleeding cuts, sprains etc[13][16]. The rotten root can be crushed and boiled to make suds. Drinking these suds is said to induce the menopause in women, thereby rendering then infertile[16].

Product or use
Antidandruff
Product or use
Contraceptive
Product or use
Oxytoxic
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Skin

Material uses

Both the leaves, and a fibre obtained from the leaves, can be used for making cloth, ropes and mats[11][20][21][24][25][7][16]. The leaves can be split and used to make baskets[16]. The leaves are used as paint brushes and brooms[19][25][26]. The leaves can be split and used as a temporary tying material[16]. The sharp points of the leaves have been used as needles[16]. The roots are rich in saponins and can be used as a soap substitute[24][25][27]. The soap obtained from the root makes a good hair shampoo[27], it is said to be effective against dandruff and also to act as a tonic to stop the hair falling out[12][16]. The shampoo also rids the body of lice and other parasites[16].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Broom
Product or use
Brush
Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Hair care
Product or use
Needles
Product or use
Soap
Product or use
String
Product or use
Weaving

Environment

Range
Central N. America - Iowa to Texas and N. Dakota.
Habitat
Dry plains and sandy hills[18].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, drought
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Pre-soaking the seed for 24 hours in warm water may reduce the germination time. It usually germinates within 1 - 12 months if kept at a temperature of 20°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for at least their first two winters. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer and consider giving them some winter protection for at least their first winter outdoors - a simple pane of glass is usually sufficient[K]. Seed is not produced in Britain unless the flowers are hand pollinated. Root cuttings in late winter or early spring. Lift in April/May and remove small buds from base of stem and rhizomes. Dip in dry wood ashes to stop any bleeding and plant in a sandy soil in pots in a greenhouse until established[23]. Division of suckers in late spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the following spring.

Cultivation

Thrives in most soils but prefers a sandy loam and full exposure to the south[2]. Dislikes chalky or peaty soils[3]. Can succeed in light shade[K]. Plants are hardier when grown on poor sandy soils[10]. Prefers a hot dry position and a poor soil[6]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[10]. Hardy to at least -30°c according to one report[5], whilst another one says that it is hardy to about -15°c[10]. A very ornamental plant[1], it rarely flowers unless in a dry sandy soil[17]. The scent of the flowers is most pronounced at night[15]. In the plants native environment, its flowers can only be pollinated by a certain species of moth. This moth cannot live in Britain and, if fruit and seed is required, hand pollination is necessary. This can be quite easily and successfully done using something like a small paint brush[1]. Individual crowns are monocarpic, dying after flowering[14]. However, the crown will usually produce a number of sideshoots before it dies and these will grow on to flower in later years[14]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[10]. Members of this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[14]

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩

  3. Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge 1926-00-00

    ↩

  4. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩1↩2

  5. Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 4. Thompson and Morgan. 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  6. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩

  7. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩

  8. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  9. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2

  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  11. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  12. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2

  13. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3

  14. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  15. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

  16. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12↩13↩14↩15↩16

  17. Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938-00-00

    ↩

  18. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

  19. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  20. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩

  21. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2↩3

  22. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩

  23. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

  24. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2

  25. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  26. Balls. E. K. Early Uses of Californian Plants. University of California Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-520-00072-2

    ↩

  27. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

    ↩1↩2

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