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Yucca faxoniana
Yucca faxoniana (Trel.) Sarg.
Faxon Yucca, Carneros Yucca, Eve's Needle, Spanish Bayonet, Spanish Dagger, Giant Dagger, Palm Samandoca, Palm Barreta, Palmilla, Palma
Agavaceae (Century-Plant Family)
Synonym(s): Samuela carnerosana, Samuela faxoniana, Yucca carnerosana
USDA Symbol: YUFA
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Small evergreen tree with 1 or sometimes more trunks, enlarged at base and either unbranched or with 1 or 2 upright branches and with long bayonetlike leaves.
It is named for Charles Edward Faxon (1846-1918), the illustrator of Charles Sprague Sargent's 14-volume Silva of North America. Birds and mammals eat the fleshy fruit. The name Yucca is from yucca, the Carib Indian name of the root of cassava (Manihot), misapplied to this genus.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Cactus/Succulent
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 20 feet tall in bloom
Fruit: Brown
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: WhiteBloom Time: Mar , Apr
Distribution
USA: NM , TXNative Distribution: Trans-Pecos Texas and NE. Mexico; at 4000-5000' (1219-1524 m).
Native Habitat: Flat desert areas, High elevation, Hillsides, Slopes
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Cold Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Limestone-based, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Showy, Blooms ornamental, Accent tree or shrub, ScreensUse Wildlife: Nectar-moths, Nectar-insects, Fruit-deer, Seeds-Small mammals.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Yucca giant skipper.
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX
Wildflower Center Seed Bank
LBJWC-1110 Collected 2007-08-17 in Jeff Davis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenterBibliography
Bibref 298 - Field Guide to Texas Trees (1999) Simpson, B.J.Bibref 355 - Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
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Additional resources
USDA: Find Yucca faxoniana in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Yucca faxoniana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Yucca faxoniana
Metadata
Record Modified: 2021-03-12Research By: TWC Staff