Arlene Wright-Correll

Did You Know Yucca is an Herb?



Posted: Tuesday, November 04, 2008

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http://www.learn-america.com

Our late son, Fred, happened to like the look of the Yucca plant and especially when the plant blooms so he planted two of them at Home Farm and now that it has been 8 years since Fred unexpectedly passed away the Yucca plants are still here and have replicated themselves until we now have about five or six of them.

The type he planted is called Yucca filamentosa , commonly known as Adam's needle and it is a medicinal plant that is native to North America and it seems to thrive in our Kentucky clay soil in zone 6.

Once they were planted I was surprised to learn that the Yucca plant is an herb and that there are 30 Yucca species. I also learned that these plants are pollinated by the Yucca moth who transfers the pollen from the stamens of one Yucca plant to the stigma of another. While doing that it lays an egg in the flower and then the moth larva eats some of the developing seeds.

Yucca is the state flower of New Mexico and dried Yucca ignites at the lowest temperature thus making it a desirable fire starting element.

Fred planted his Yuccas for ornamental purposes, but some gardeners plant them because of their edible parts which include its seeds, fruits, flowers, flowering stem and mainly the roots.

I have never tried to eat any of these parts of this plant being satisfied to just have a reminder of Fred. However, one will find information about this plant in a good health food store and they will usually tell you that many people use Yucca roots for arthritis.

Some say that in Western herbal treatments the Yucca root at one time was used for the treatments of disgestive disorders, diabetes and arthritis.

Regardless, it is a grand ornamental perennial plant that will give you some good accents in your landscaping scheme as it grows two to three feet high and two to three feet wide. The shrub forms a mound of stiff, sword-shaped leaves. Large cluster of white flowers bloom from on a 4 foot stalk in summer. It will grow in zones 5 to 10 and does well in loam, sandy or clay soil. It grows in wet or dry seasons and like partial to full sun and the sword shaped leaves have sharp points on the end of them.

I know it is easy to transplant as Fred found the ones he planted on a vacant lot he owned. I like them because they are maintenance free and can be mulched with sand or stones.

The only thing I do to them is to remove flower stalk after blooming and though I have never done it Yucca can be cut off at ground level.

"Tread the Earth Lightly" and in the meantime May your day be filled with Peace, Light and Love,

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About the Author & Artist. Arlene Wright-Correll (1935- ___), popular American award winning Artist, published author, columnist, & is the resident art instructor for Avalon Stained Glass School, at the age of 68, decided to pick up her paint brushes again after 54 years and paint.  She is a cancer and stroke survivor who is able to strive forward each and everyday to welcome the beauty of this small planet.  She also is a China & Porcelain painter, Sandblasting & Etching, Stained Glass & fused glass Artisan. She is one of the six KY Artists who worked 6 months to create the dolls for Journey Jots in 2006 and a Smithsonian Institute art exhibit in 2008. Her published books can be found here . She is also a featured writer for GreenThumbArticles.com and teaches Art Vacation Holidays at Avalon Stained Glass School and Creativity Center.

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