Santa Fe Botanical Garden

Common name: Faxon yucca, Eve's needle, Spanish dagger, Spanish bayonet, palma de san pedro

Family: Asparagaceae (Asparagus)

Distribution: New Mexico, Texas, Northern Mexico

Habitat: Plains, rocky slopes, hillsides

Hardiness: USDA Zone 6 (-10 to 0 °F)

Life form: Cactus/succulent

Occurrence in New Mexico: New Mexico native plant

Growing Conditions: Faxon yucca is native to the Chihuahuan Desert of northern Mexico, southwestern Texas, and the border of southeastern New Mexico, centered around the Rio Grande and Big Bend areas. It does not occur in the upper nor lower Rio Grande basins. It grows at elevations from 2,700-6,700 feet on desert plains, hillsides, and rocky slopes. It is adaptable to many soil types, growing in sand, sandy loam, clay, and alkaline soils. Good drainage is essential. It grows in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade. It is very heat and drought tolerant. It needs to dry out between watering. It is somewhat cold tolerant but may not be fully hardy in zone 6. The trunk is covered with a dense thatch of dead leaves that protects and insulates the trunk and should not be pruned. This arborescent yucca is commonly used as an ornamental, but should be planted in a protected area in the landscape with plenty of room. Before planting in your garden, inquire about the source. It is very slow growing and is often collected from the wild.

Description: Faxon yucca is a slow-growing tree-like yucca that eventually reaches 6-12 (sometimes 15) feet tall and 6-8 feet wide. It usually has a single trunk enlarged at the base, but occasionally has 1 or 2 upright branches. Rosettes of large, stiff bayonet-like leaves (up to 4 feet in length) have margins with dark brown stripes and peeling white fibers. The old, dried foliage bends downward along the trunk to form a thick thatch, which protects the plant from heat and cold. In spring, a 3-4 foot flower stalk with whitish bell-shaped flowers emerges above the foliage from the center of the plant. Flowers give rise to red fruit pods.