How to identify Small Soapweed (Yucca glauca)

How to identify Small Soapweed (Yucca glauca)

Small Soapweed, also known as Great Plains Yucca, Beargrass, Plains Yucca

Small Soapweed boasts a distinctive rosette of stiff, upright, pale green leaves, each ranging from 9 inches to 2 1/4 feet (23 cm to 68 cm) long and approximately 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) wide. These leaves feature toothless margins adorned with fibrous, thread-like hairs, culminating in a sharp tip. During summer, this plant reveals its character with greenish-cream flowers, often with a rosy-brown tinge, which bloom atop 3-foot (about 91 cm) tall stalks. The flowers also emit a subtle fragrance.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Herb

Leaf Type: Evergreen

Quickly Identify Small Soapweed

Rosette of stiff, upright, pale green leaves with fibrous hairs and sharp tips (9 inches to 2 1/4 feet)

Greenish-white, bell-shaped pendulous flowers with six petal-like tepals (3 to 4.5 feet)

Elongated capsule fruit (1.6 to 2.4 inches) with glossy black seeds upon dehiscence

Stem typically narrow and unbranched, reaching 2-3 feet with rough surface and light brown color

Sharp-pointed leaves clustered low, 1-2.5 feet, in bluish-green with inrolled margins adorned with white filaments

Detailed Traits of Small Soapweed

Leaf Features

The leaves of small Soapweed are sharp-pointed and typically cluster in a low formation with one or more erect crowns. They measure 1-2.5 feet (30-76 cm) in length and feature inrolled margins adorned with white filaments. The leaves are stiff, with a tapered shape and can demonstrate a slight curvature. Their color is a pale green to bluish-green, complementing their unique texture.

Learn About the Leaf Glossary

Flower Features

The flowers of small Soapweed are pendulous, greenish-white, and bell-shaped, measuring about 3 to 4.5 feet (90 to 135 cm) in height. These striking blooms feature a graceful, drooping orientation and appear in clusters. The blossoms exhibit six petal-like tepals that create the bell shape. Known for their subtle yet elegant appearance, these flowers typically bloom from late spring to early summer, adding a unique touch to their native landscapes. Their scent is faint and delicate, enhancing their beauty.

Learn About the Flower Glossary

Stem Features

The stem of small Soapweed is typically narrow and rarely branched. It exhibits a woody texture with a coloration that tends to be light brown to tan. The stem can reach up to 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) in height and has a rough, fibrous surface. Although usually unbranched, in some cases, limited branching may occur near the base. This unique stem structure is crucial for identifying the plant.

Learn About the Stem Glossary

Fruit Features

The fruit of small Soapweed is an elongated capsule measuring approximately 1.6 to 2.4 inches (4 to 6 cm) in length. Its woody texture matures to a brown hue, encapsulating multiple flat, glossy black seeds. These seeds can be noticed upon the dehiscence of the capsule when it splits open upon maturity. The characteristic oblong shape and contrasting seed color provide distinctive qualities that aid in the identification of this fruit.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

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