Yucca

Yucca madrensis

Also known as: yucca

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Asparagaceae
Genus:
Yucca
Species:
Yucca madrensis

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb , Shrub , Subshrub
Height:
8-12 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
jun, jul, aug
Bloom Colors:
White

Native Range

United States: Arizona, New Mexico

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Holcocera gigantella, Holcocera paradoxa, Parategeticula pollenifera, Prodoxus ochrocarus, Prodoxus y-inversus, Yucca moth (Tegeticula yuccasella)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis) Butterflies:American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis), Azure sp. (Celastrina Tutt), Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes), Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius), Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius), Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala), Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala), Duskywing sp. (Erynnis Schrank), Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus), Falcate Orangetip (Anthocharis midea), Falcate Orangetip (Anthocharis midea), Goatweed Leafwing (Anaea andria), Goatweed Leafwing (Anaea andria), Gulf Fritillary (Dione vanillae), Gulf Fritillary (Dione vanillae), Henry's Elfin (Callophrys henrici), Henry's Elfin (Callophrys henrici), Horace's Duskywing (Gesta Evans), Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa), Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa), ⚠️Monarch (Danaus plexippus), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), Palamedes Swallowtail (Pterourus palamedes), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon), Phaon Crescent (Phyciodes phaon), Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor), Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis), Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta), Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops), Red-banded Hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops), Red-Spotted Purple (astyanax) (Limenitis arthemis), Red-Spotted Purple (astyanax) (Limenitis arthemis), Reversed Roadside-skipper (Amblyscirtes reversa), Reversed Roadside-skipper (Amblyscirtes reversa), Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo), Sleepy Duskywing (Erynnis brizo), Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe), Sleepy Orange (Abaeis nicippe), Southern Cloudywing (Cecropterus Herrich-Schäffer), Spicebush Swallowtail (Pterourus troilus), Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon), Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon), Swarthy Skipper (Nastra lherminier), Swarthy Skipper (Nastra lherminier), White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae), White Peacock (Anartia jatrophae), Yucca Giant-Skipper (Megathymus yuccae), Yucca Giant-Skipper (Megathymus yuccae), Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus), Zebra Swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
pH:
6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
native to arid, mountainous regions