Spineless yucca

Yucca gigantea

Tree5.5×4 mzone 10–12light shade

Will it grow where I live?

Spineless yucca is not winter-hardy in Central Europe (zone 10): outdoors from spring to autumn only, otherwise a container plant overwintered frost-free. It also needs warm summers – in Central Europe that means wine-growing regions, cities or a sheltered south-facing wall.

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Winter hardiness by USDA zone, summer warmth by heat sum – the same values the app and the plant finder use.

Profile

Family: Agavaceae
Habit: Tree
Height: 5.5 m
Spread: 4 m
Growth: slow
Lifespan: 55 years
First yield: after 12 years
Hardiness: zone 10–12
Shade tolerance: light shade
Soil: Sand, Silt
Soil moisture: very dry – very moist
pH: 5 – 8.5

evergreenthorny

Flowering & harvest

	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Flowering

Times apply to the northern hemisphere in a temperate climate and shift with altitude and cultivar.

Uses

Edible3 of 10

Other uses5 of 10

Edible: In Central America the flower buds (Flor de Izote) and the young flowers are eaten (cooked or raw). The fruits are also edible.

Other uses: Der Baum ist ein Zierbaum und wird daher häufig um Häuser herum angepflanzt, insbesondere für hohe Hecken. In manchen Regionen wird er dicht an steilen Straßenböschungen gepflanzt, um Erosion zu verhindern. Er wird auch zur Stabilisierung von Terrassierungen in Kaffeeplantagen eingesetzt[418]. Weitere Verwendung: Aus den Blättern werden Fasern gewonnen, die zur Herstellung von Bindfäden, Stoffen und Körben verwendet werden

Origin & habitat

Originates in Central America (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica). Grows in dry, tropical regions, often on rocky slopes, in savannas and coastal forests.

Frequently encountered in cultivation or in hedges and thickets throughout the lowlands, and often also in the mountains at mid-elevations; often it is visible up to 2,700 metres or perhaps even higher.

⚠️ Hazards

Gilt als ungiftig. Die Blätter sind scharfkantig und können zu Verletzungen führen.

This is no substitute for expert identification. When in doubt, do not eat it.

Frequently asked questions

Spineless yucca: how big does it get?

Spineless yucca (Yucca gigantea) grows as a Tree and reaches roughly 5.5 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 4 m. Growth is slow.

Spineless yucca: what site does it need?

Spineless yucca tolerates light shade. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt. Soil moisture should be in the range very dry – very moist. The pH may lie between 5 and 8.5.

Spineless yucca: is it hardy?

Spineless yucca is listed as hardy in zone 10–12 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

Spineless yucca: will it grow in Central Europe?

Spineless yucca: when does it flower?

In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate it flowers from July to August.

Spineless yucca: is it poisonous?

No toxicity is recorded for Spineless yucca. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.

Spineless yucca: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 3/10, Other uses 5/10.

Community experience

No first-hand reports for this plant yet.

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