''Yucca pallida'', sometimes called pale yucca, is a species of
yucca
''Yucca'' is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Its 40–50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitis ...
native to Northern Mexico and parts of the
blackland prairies of northern and central
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
, and notable for its light-colored
leaves
A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, st ...
that range from a pale blue-gray to sage-green in color.
[McKelvey, Susan Delano. 1947. Yuccas of the Southwestern United States 2: 57–63, map 2, pl. 13–14.]
The rosettes average 20–50 cm tall and 30–80 cm in diameter, with leaves 15–40 cm long and 2–3 cm wide, being widest around the midpoint. The rosettes sit directly on the ground, with little or no trunk. The leaves have a yellow to brown terminal spine, and are generally flat, possibly with some waviness or rolling along the edges. The
inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are forme ...
is a
panicle
A panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a panicle are of ...
, 1–2.5 m tall, with up to 100 bell-shaped
flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechanis ...
s, each 5–7 cm long, with color ranging from light green to cream.
''Yucca pallida'' is known to hybridize with ''
Yucca rupicola''
Scheele, which has a similar appearance, but whose leaves are more twisted and curved.
Although not common in
horticulture
Horticulture is the branch of agriculture that deals with the art, science, technology, and business of plant cultivation. It includes the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, sprouts, mushrooms, algae, flowers, seaweeds and no ...
, its color, size, and moderate hardiness (down to −18 °C or 0 °F) make it a good gardening alternative to other species of yuccas.
References
* Fritz Hochstätter (Hrsg.): '' Yucca (Agavaceae). Band 1 Dehiscent-fruited species in the Southwest and Midwest of the USA, Canada and Baja California '', Selbst Verlag, 2000.
* Fritz Hochstätter (Hrsg.): '' Yucca (Agavaceae). Band 2 Indehiscent-fruited species in the Southwest, Midwest and East of the USA'', Selbst Verlag. 2002.
* Fritz Hochstätter (Hrsg.): '' Yucca (Agavaceae). Band 3 Mexico '', Selbst Verlag, 2004.
* Mary & Gary Irish, ''Agaves, Yuccas, and Related Plants: a Gardener's Guide'' (Timber Press, 2000, ) pp. 260–261
External links
Yucca pallida care* Di
Fritz Hochstätter
* Yucca
Verbreitungskarte I Fritz Hochstätter
Page on ''Yucca pallida'', with pictures
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yucca Pallida
Yucca, pallida
Flora of Texas
Flora of Mexico
Flora of Chihuahua (state)
Flora of Coahuila
Plants described in 1947