We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Yucca harrimaniae - Trelease.

Common Name Spanish Bayonet, New Mexico Spanish bayonet
Family Agavaceae
USDA hardiness 6-9
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].
Habitats High plains grasslands to open coniferous woods[228].
Range Central N. America - Utah to Colorado.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Yucca harrimaniae Spanish Bayonet, New Mexico Spanish bayonet


nps.gov
Yucca harrimaniae Spanish Bayonet, New Mexico Spanish bayonet
flickr.com/photos/bryanto

 

Translate this page:

Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Yucca harrimaniae is an evergreen Shrub growing to 0.4 m (1ft 4in) at a slow rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in leaf all year. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Hand.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Fruit  Stem
Edible Uses:

Fruit - the immature fruit is cooked. A bitter taste, but most of the bitterness is in the skin[85]. Flowers - raw or cooked[85]. They are delicious raw, and can also be dried, crushed and used as a flavouring[164]. Flowering stem - peeled, cooked and used like asparagus[164]. The whitish inner portion is eaten[85].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Broom  Fibre  Soap

A fibre obtained from the leaves is used for making ropes, baskets and mats[82, 85, 169]. The leaves themselves can be used as paint brushes[92], brooms or woven to make mats etc[85]. The roots are rich in saponins and can be used as a soap substitute[85].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Thrives in any soil but prefers a sandy loam and full exposure to the south[11]. Requires a sunny position[11]. Plants are hardier when grown on poor sandy soils[200]. Established plants are very drought resistant, this species is also tolerant of cool damp weather[11]. Hardy to at least -30°c[164]. Closely allied to Y. glauca[1]. 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. Individual crowns are monocarpic, dying after flowering[233]. However, the crown will usually produce a number of sideshoots before it dies and these will grow on to flower in later years[233]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. Members of this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[233]

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant 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[78]. Division of suckers in late spring[111]. 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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Hesperaloe funiferaNew Mexico false yuccaPerennial1.8 6-9 SLMNDM002
Yucca aloifoliaSpanish Bayonet, Aloe yucca, Dagger Plant, Yucca, Spanish BayonetTree7.5 8-10 SLMHSNDM312
Yucca angustissimaNarrowleaf yucca, Kanab yucca, Toft's yucca, YuccaShrub0.4 4-9 SLMHSNDM304
Yucca baccataSpanish Bayonet, Banana yucca, Blue Yucca, Spanish YuccaShrub0.9 6-11 SLMHNDM415
Yucca brevifoliaJoshua Tree, Jaeger's Joshua tree, Yucca, Joshua TreeTree9.0 9-11 MLMHSNDM302
Yucca constrictaBuckley's YuccaPerennial1.5 8-11  LMHSNDM202
Yucca elataSoap Tree, Soaptree yucca, Soapweed, Soapweed YuccaShrub2.0 9-11 SLMHSNDM203
Yucca filamentosaSpoonleaf Yucca, Adam's needle, Desert Candle, Needle Palm, St. Peter's Palm, Spanish Bayonet, CommShrub1.2 4-10 MLMHSNDM314
Yucca filifera Shrub10.0 6-9  LMHSNDM202
Yucca giganteaSpineless yucca, IzoteTree6.0 9-11 FLMHSNDM302
Yucca glaucaSoapweed, Soapweed yucca, Gurney's yucca, American Vetch, Yucca, Narrowleaf Yucca, SoapweedShrub1.5 4-10 SLMHSNDM222
Yucca gloriosaSpanish Dagger, moundlily yucca, Palm Lily, Roman Candle, Mound Lily Yucca, Spanish DaggerShrub1.8 6-11 SLMSNDM212
Yucca recurvifoliaCurve-leaf yuccaShrub2.5 7-10  LMHSNDM302
Yucca rupicolaTwisted-Leaf Yucca, Texas yuccaShrub0.6 8-11  LMHSNDM202
Yucca schidigeraMojave Yucca, YuccaTree4.5 9-10  LMHNDM302
Yucca smallianaAdam's Needle, Weak-leaf yuccaShrub1.2 8-11  LMHSNDM202
Yucca whippleiOur Lord's CandleShrub2.0 7-11 SLMHSDM303

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

Trelease.

Botanical References

11200228

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Yucca harrimaniae  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.