Schott's Yucca
Yucca × schottii
- Native to:
- United States
Akos Kokai (www.flickr.com)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Genus:
- Yucca
- Species:
- Yucca × schottii
- USDA Symbol:
- YUSC
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Shrub , Subshrub , Tree
- Height:
- 500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Aethes yuccatana, Blastobasis yuccaecolella, Holcocera gigantella, Holcocera paradoxa, Parategeticula pollenifera, Prodoxus coloradensis, Prodoxus ochrocarus, Prodoxus phylloryctus, Prodoxus quinquepunctella, Prodoxus sordidus, Prodoxus y-inversus, Sosipatra rileyella, Tegeticula synthetica, Yucca moth (Tegeticula yuccasella), Colorado giant skipper (Megathymus coloradensis)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, yucca moths
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from basal rosettes after fire; fire removes accumulated dead leaves and can stimulate flowering.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- native to arid, mountainous regions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate readily without pretreatment; warm temperatures around 70-80°F improve germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI