Arkansas Yucca

Yucca arkansana

Asparagaceae (Asparagus Family)

Softleaf Yucca

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Native Habitat: Grassland

Cross Timbers, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Southern Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies

Maintenance

Don’t plant near paths or driveway – sharp tips

Comments

Smallest yucca to 3 feet, usually just a rosette of leaves. 8-24 inch evergreen leaves with white margins and curly threads. Flexible leaves are bluish-green to yellowish-green and have sharp spines on tips. 6-7 foot central column of white bell flowers forms in spring. Fruit is a capsule with thin black seeds.

Growth Form

Cactus & Succulent

Height

1 to

4 ft

Spread

2 to

5 ft

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Leaf Retention

Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Bloom Color

White, Green

Bloom Season

Spring, Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar

Wildlife Benefit

Hummingbirds

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Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym/s: Yucca angustissima var. mollis

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 3) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 213, 264-265. 4) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=YUAR2. 5) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Yucca+arkansana&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 6) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=260&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 7) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=43133#null

Native Plant Society of Texas