Accession Count: 3
Common Name:
mountain yucca, Schott's yucca
Family Name:
Asparagaceae
Botanical Name:
Yucca x schottii
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Y. x schottii is a small, evergreen desert tree, commonly named 'mountain yucca', and 'Schott's yucca.' The plant can grow up to 15 feet tall, and branch out to 10 feet wide. As a young plant, they are commonly found with a single stem but can be seen branching at the base as the plant matures (1,5). The simple, concave leaves are blue-green to dark green in color, and organized in clusters at the terminal ends of the stems. They measure two feet long and two inches wide, and are stiff with spines on the end of the leaf. Like other yuccas, this one too will allow its dead leaves to hang on and protect the brown stem (1,4,5). In the summer, Schott's yucca grows a two foot stalk from the center of its rosette of leaves, displaying a cluster of small white flowers that eventually produce fleshy fruit (5,6).
Compound:
Yuc x sch
Geographic Origin:
Desert Southwest
Ecozone Origin:
Nearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
Y. x schottii is native to the oak-pine belt of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range of Mexico. Some mountain yucca populations have been found in the mountainous regions of southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, northeastern Sonora and northwestern Chihuahua (1,6). They occur both in open, sunny hillsides at higher elevations and in the shade of oaks and pines in mountain forests (2).
Cultivation Notes:
Y. x schottii can tolerate full sun and light shade. Even though it grows well in the shade, the mountain yucca will not be able to flower in such conditions. Although it is adapted for elevations above 4,000 feet, this plant is successful at lower elevations in desert cities such as Phoenix and Tucson with supplemental water during the hottest and driest months (3). Compared to other yucca species, Schott's yucca is more tolerant of moist, shaded soils and temperate climates (1,3). Propagation is most commonly done by seed, and the seeds germinate best in 60-70oF temperatures (6).
Ethnobotany:
Plant mountain yuccas in transitional or arid zones when using xeriscape techniques. It is outstanding by itself in naturalistic or formal landscapes, and is suitable for shaded areas. The only maintenance need for this plant is removal of the dead stalk; and removing the dead leaves from the stem is solely based on preference (1). Native American people utilized the fruit as a source of food. Historical accounts confirm many groups of people ate the fruit raw or dried. The Apache cooked the fruit, removed the skin and made a pulp that was eaten or dried for storage. The Papago and the Pima were known to cook the fruit with white flour to make a cake. Unlike most other yucca species, does not produce a strong fiber (2).
Height:
11 - 15 feet
Width:
6 - 10 feet
Growth Rate:
Moderate Growing
Grow Season:
Spring
Flower Season:
Summer
Color:
White
Function:
Accent
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
Citations:
- Urban Landscape Committee. Desert Accent Plants. Arizona Native Plant Society, 1992.
- Hochstatter, Fritz. Yucca 2 (Agavaceae): Indehiscent-fruited species in the Southwest, Midwest and east of the USA. Mannheim: Fritz Hochstätter, 2002. Print.
- Irish, Mary, and Gary Irish. Agaves, yuccas, and related plants: a gardener's guide. Portland, OR: Timber Press, 2000. Print.
- Encyclopedia of Stanford Trees, Shrubs, and Vines -- Retrieved Oct. 27, 2018
- Mountain States Wholesale Nursery -- Retrieved Oct. 27, 2018
- Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center -- Retrieved Oct. 27, 2018
