Yucca Plant: Beautiful, Useful, and Hearty!
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The yucca plant makes a nice border. It looks beautiful in gardens, is easy to transplant, and has medicinal value. Most of the yucca parts are edible including the roots, seeds, fruits and flowers.
Background The yucca plant is popular in arid Southwest environments, but it is also used in landscaping in all climates. It comprises of about 40-50 species of shrubs, trees and perennials under the family Agavaceae. It can be found in areas that have sandy soil, rocky places, sloped hills, and in very high altitudes. The yucca plant can grow to five meters in the span of 15-20 years. It is best suited to hot, dry environments. The yucca flower is New Mexico's state flower. The Yucca Plant and its Medicinal Value The roots and leaves of a yucca plant has anti-oxidant properties. It is used as an anti-inflammatory medication and as a blood purifier. It also relieves symptoms of arthritis, bursitis, chronic pain, joint pain and stiffness. It aids in the treatment of diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. The yucca plant has moreover been widely used in the repair of damaged cell membranes in the scalp or the skin. Herbalists use yucca plants in the treatment of other skin irritations. Other Uses of the Yucca Plant Saponin, a steroid that is in the roots and leaves of the yucca plant, is an agent utilized in making shampoos and soaps. The Native Americans traditionally used yucca plants for washing and for herbal medicine. Dried yucca wood is ideal for starting fires. The Yucca as Ornamental Plants The yucca is popular as an ornamental plant and is usually included in local landscaping. Its balloon-shaped leaves are adorned by clusters of white or cream colored flowers that are usually purple at the base. The yucca plant is also known for its rosettes of evergreen. Yucca Planting Although it prefers a wild setting where it thrives in full sun and arid soil, the yucca plant can be potted. It is usually faster to propagate the yucca from seeds than from cuttings. Seedlings need to be grown in pots for approximately 12 months. You can then transplant them into 3-gallon pots, or larger. Wait at least three years before planting them in the garden. The yucca plant needs little maintenance. It will tolerate any soil condition as long as it is not too wet. Winter-sensitive yucca plants will need protection from the cold. Some of the species that you will not need to worry about in the wintertime are the glauca, flaccida, and filamentosa. If you are bringing out yucca plants that have been cultivated in greenhouses, gradually expose them to increasing sunlight. A Specialized Pollination System The yucca plant has a specialized pollination system. The yucca moth transfers pollen from the stamens of one yucca plant to the stigma of the other. The moths lay eggs on the flowers, and then moth larvae eat some of the developing seeds. The Attraction! It is useful, beautiful, and hearty! The yucca plant is for healing and for our enjoyment!
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