Practical
Plants

Yucca whipplei

Our Lord's Candle

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Agavaceae
Genus
Yucca
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
2 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
self fertile
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Self

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[9]. 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. Flowers - raw or cooked[12][13][16]. They are delicious raw, and can also be dried, crushed and used as a flavouring[16][4]. Young flowers have been parboiled and eaten, whilst older flowers have been boiled in three lots of water before being eaten[11]. This suggests the flowers are quite bitter[K]. Flowering stem - raw or cooked[3]. It is best used when fully grown, but before the flower buds expand[18]. It can be peeled, cut into sections then cooked and used like asparagus[18][4]. The roasted stems have been dried, ground into a powder then mixed with water to make cakes[11]. Seed - cooked. It can be ground into a powder or cooked and used as a gruel[12][13][3].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Seed
Plant part
Stem

Material uses

A fibre obtained from the leaves is used for making ropes, baskets and mats[13][15]. It is fine and white[17]. The leaves are used as paint brushes[17]. The roots are rich in saponins and can be used as a soap substitute[15].

Product or use
Fibre
Product or use
Soap

Environment

Range
South-western N. America - S. California, Mexico.
Habitat
Dry, grassy and often stony slopes to 1200 metres[16].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
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[14]. 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 any soil but prefers a sandy loam and full exposure to the south[2]. Requires a sunny position[2]. Prefers a hot dry position[5], strongly disliking winter wet[2]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[8]. Plants are hardier when grown on poor sandy soils[8]. Plants are hardy to at least -5°c[8] and tolerate short periods down to -10°c[7]. They grow well in the warmer maritime areas of Britain but need protection from winter rains[6]. Plants have survived to flowering at Kew and at Bodnant in N. Wales[7]. Cultivated as a fibre plant in Mexico[13]. A very ornamental plant[1], it requires late summer and autumn warmth to initiate flowering[2]. The flowers are sweetly scented[7]. Usually monocarpic, living for a number of years without flowering and dying after it does flower[2][4]. Plants do produce suckers, however, and can be propagated by this means[14]. The flowers of most members of this genus 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. This species, however, is self-fertile and does not require the Yucca moth for pollination, setting fruit without hand pollination[2]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[8]. Members of this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[10]

References

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

  6. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

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  7. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩1↩2

  15. 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

  16. Coyle. J. and Roberts. N. C. A Field Guide to the Common and Interesting Plants of Baja California. Natural History Publishing Co. 1975-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2

  18. 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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