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YUCCA ELEPHANTIPES

Nomenclature

Family: Liliaceae

Botanical Name: Yucca elephantipes, Yucca guatamalensis, Yucca gigantea

Common Names: Spineless yucca, False palm, Palm-lily

Uses

A specimen plant used for the architectural value of its leaf clusters, sprouting from upright or branched trunks of varying height. Suitable for bright sunny areas and for use around swimming pools.

Description

Indoor Yuccas are produced by lopping off stem sections from mature specimens. Once rooted, “suckers” of long, leathery leaves sprout in clusters from these truncated stems. The leaves are usually deep green with rough edges although variegated types are also available. A related species Yucca aloifolia (Spanish bayonet) has very sharp, serrated leaves and should not be used in areas accessible to young children. The white, bell-shaped flowers rarely appear on indoor specimens.

History

“Yucca” is a South American native name for the Sweet potato. Unfortunately the sixteenth century naturalist Gerard got the two plants mixed up and swapped their names, proving that some scientists can get into just as big a muddle as the rest of us!

The two most widely grown species are the Spineless yucca and the Spanish bayonet.

These evergreen palm-like plants grow wild in Central and South America reaching a height of up to ten metres. They produce large creamy-white flowers on an upright stem.

The Yucca has been used in a variety of ways for thousands of years by the American Indians. Leaves, twigs, buds and fruit provide food, and the crushed roots were used to provide soap, which was claimed to be “as cleansing as any bought in the shops”. The fibres were used for rope making and basket weaving, and juice from the plant was used in folk medicine. It is also claimed that plant extracts can relieve arthritis and rheumatism.

Care and Maintenance

Temperature:	Prefers cool to intermediate conditions with a minimum of 7° C (45° F)
Light	Does best in full sun. Will tolerate less light but if it is too low the leaves are likely to discolour.
Water:	The growing medium should be kept moist but not constantly wet during growth and allowed to dry out slightly between each watering period. Should be kept barely moist during the winter months.
Humidity:	Tolerates dry atmospheres and does not benefit from misting, which can be harmful under cool conditions.
Pests:	Prone to attack by mealybugs, scale insects and mites. Botrytis may also be a problem if the plant is over-watered.