Taxon

Yucca rostrata

 
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Yucca rostrata - beaked yucca
Image: Janice Tucker
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Common name: beaked yucca
Family: Asparagaceae (Asparagus)
Distribution: Texas, Northern Mexico
Habitat: Rocky slopes, ridges, canyons
Hardiness: USDA Zone 5 (-20 to -10 °F)
Life form: Cactus/succulent
Occurrence in New Mexico: Exotic
Growing Conditions: Beaked yucca is native to Brewster County, Texas, and Chihuahua and Coahuila, Mexico, where it grows on rocky bajadas, slopes, ridges, and canyon bottoms at elevations up to about 2,000 feet. It is relatively hardy and is a popular horticultural plant throughout the Southwest, as far north as Denver. It grows in limestone gravel in its native range, but tolerates many soil types as long as there is good drainage. It thrives in alkaline soil. Beaked yucca performs best in hot sunny areas. This drought tolerant plant needs only occasional to infrequent summer irrigation. It is propagated from seeds or offsets and transplants easily. It grows slowly to reach a height of 8-10 feet in a decade. This is a good focal plant for a dry area of the garden. They are sometimes grown in large pots.
Description: The beaked yucca grows slowly to reach 12-15 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide when mature. It often has a single upright trunk, but occasionally branches. A burst of somewhat waxy, pale bluish-green, narrow, 2-feet long leaves form a dense rosette at the top of the stems. The tips of the leaves are sharp, but the leaves are less stiff than those of many other yuccas. As the old leaves die, they form a soft gray fibrous covering on the trunk. In late spring, large clusters of white flowers are produced on yellow-orange stalks that extend above the foliage.
Links: Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN-Taxonomy) • SEINet

Locations

  • 1: Meadow Garden • Accession: 2013-0028/6 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 2: Meadow Garden • Accession: 2013-0028/7 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 3: North Xeric Garden East Corner • Accession: 2013-0036/8 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 4: North Xeric Garden West Slope • Accession: 2013-0036/9 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 5: Welcome Garden • Accession: 2013-0028/1 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 6: Welcome Garden • Accession: 2013-0028/2 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 7: Welcome Garden • Accession: 2013-0028/3 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 8: Welcome Garden • Accession: 2013-0028/4 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 9: Welcome Garden • Accession: 2013-0028/5 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 10: Welcome Garden • Accession: 2013-0036/1 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 11: Welcome Garden • Accession: 2013-0036/2 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 12: Welcome Garden • Accession: 2013-0036/3 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 13: Welcome Garden • Accession: 2013-0036/4 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 14: Welcome Garden • Accession: 2013-0036/5 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 15: Welcome Garden • Accession: 2013-0036/6 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 16: Xeric Garden Hot Box - NE bed • Accession: 2013-0028/10 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 17: Xeric/Dry Garden • Accession: 2013-0036/10 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 18: Xeric/Dry Garden • Accession: 2013-0036/12 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
  • 19: Xeric/Dry Garden • Accession: 2013-0036/7 • Provenance: Cultivated of Garden Origin
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