Yucca schidigera (Mojave Yucca)

Photographs

My photos:

This photo was taken at the Anza Borrego Visitor's Center in February.

The photos below are from Torrey Pines, also in San Diego County but along the coast (Anza Borrego is on the other side of the mountains, to the east). The second photo shows a plant with a flower bud on it.

The plant below is just starting to put out a flower bud - Joshua Tree, March.

More photos:

The plant in flower, from USDA.

click photo to enlarge

Plant Information

Agavaceae

In the garden:

This evergreen succulent has dagger-like leaves with attached fibers. It’s trunk can be simple or branched, growing to 12 feet tall. In the summer, it blooms with white or green-white flowers in branched clusters. It is recommended for large gardens or dry banks and hillsides. A drought tolerant specimen for rock or desert garden. Water is required only in the first year; after this, it should grow without special care. Avoid overhead irrigation since this encourages crown rot. Plant in a well-drained coarse soil. Propagate by seeds. This plant will act as a fire retardant if reasonably well watered.

In the wild:

Mojave yucca grows on dry rocky slopes, mesas, sandy desert washes, and
bajadas, up to 7800 ft. Dense concentrations of this species are rare in
southern California but do occur in Arizona and Nevada.

Ethnobotany:

Native people used Mojave yucca for numerous purposes. Fruits were eaten raw or dried for later use. Leaves, which contain high levels of saponin, a detergentlike substance, were pulped to produce soap. Fibers obtained from the leaves were made
into rope, twine, hats, hair brushes, shoes, mattresses, and saddle blankets.

Field Trips
Anza Borrego Caspers Holy Jim Canyon Idyllwild
Joshua Tree Mt Palomar Rancho Santa Ana Torrey Pines

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