Soapweed Yucca Glauca Drought Tolerant Garden Plant Seeds

Soapweed Yucca (Yucca glauca) - A tropical plant and member of the agave family, it has stiff, grey-green evergreen leaves which form 2 foot or greater clumps.  Usually in summer, 6 foot tall spikes topped with large white flowers rise high above the leaves. The flowers give way later in summer to woody, decorative seed pods that persist on the stems. It is a native to the southwestern US and grows best in dry rocky soil. Its natural habitat is dry rocky soils and often found in short grass prairies and desert grasslands. This variety of Yucca is among the most cold-hardy and landscape ready of the species. It is also very drought tolerant making it perfect for xeriscape landscaping.

A few other names for Yucca glauca are: Soapweed Yucca, Spanish Bayonet, Narrowleaf Yucca, Great Plains Yucca, Beargrass, Great Plains Yucca. An important plant for wildlife, it provides food and nesting for small mammals, birds, and reptiles. The flowers attract butterflies, but not deer or rabbits. It is a host plant for the Yucca Moth. This moth is the only insect that has success in pollinating the yucca flower and developing fruit and is the moths' only food source. Its roots are used to make soap. Crushed roots produce a lather that is great as a soap or shampoo; thus, the name Soapweed Yucca.

Dried leaves from this plant can be used to weave baskets, mats, and sandals. Rope is made from the extracted leaf fibers. Yucca can be propagated from seeds or stem cuttings, or rhizomes. In addition to putting on a showy display, the leaves have many practical uses. The leaves can be used to make paint brushes and brooms. After splitting the leaves, they can be used as a tying material. The needle-sharp points of the leaves have been used as needles.