(Photograph = Yucca treculeana)
Introduction
Yucca treculeana grows in South Texas and is the only native tree yucca that occurs east of the Pecos River (in Texas). It can form a tall plant to about 15 ft; exceptional specimens are reported to reach 20 ft.
The Details
Y. treculeana ranges from the coastal flats of the South Texas Gulf Coast west along Rio Grande counties into New Mexico, and it extends farther into northeastern Mexico. Along the coast, the plant grows in sandy dunes and often reaches greater height near the shoreline. The leaves are thick and concave—very long yet narrow—with a sharp tip; overall, they are distinctly dagger-like.
When there is enough rain, plants may flower at different times of the year, though the heaviest bloom is in spring. Y. treculeana is more tolerant of moist soils than other tree yuccas, but it still requires good drainage.
Typically, plants are solitary and branch once or a few times; small thickets have been reported. Y. treculeana is not deer-proof, but it is highly deer-resistant. Some botanists consider it the same taxon as Y. torreyi, while others keep the two separate.
Additional Reading: Yuccas of the Southwest
Additional Reading: Chihuahuan Desert Yuccas in Cultivation
