ExplorePlants

Banana Yucca

Yucca baccata

The Banana Yucca is a special plant with long, sharp leaves and big, creamy flowers. Its fruit looks like a banana and is sweet and tasty! This plant is great for helping animals and people in the desert.

Habitat: Desert

Appearance

The Banana Yucca has stiff, sword-like blue-green leaves forming a basal rosette. Its tall stalk bears creamy white, bell-shaped flowers, followed by large, green, banana-shaped fruits.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderAsparagalesFamilyAsparagaceaeGenusYucca
Banana Yucca
flowering trait badgeshrub trait badgeevergreen trait badgefruit_bearing trait badge
Banana Yucca

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

2/5 · Low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Its flowers only open at night to be pollinated by its unique Yucca Moth!

Its spiky leaves provide excellent hiding spots for small desert critters!

The "banana" in its name comes from its edible, curved, fleshy fruits!

This tough plant can live for over 100 years in the harsh desert!

Special abilities

Ability

Moth Matchmaker

Banana Yucca has a special partnership with the Yucca Moth for successful pollination and seed production.

Ability

Desert Drinker

Banana Yucca can store water in its thick roots and succulent-like leaves, helping it survive long droughts.

Ability

Fruity Feast Maker

Banana Yucca grows large, sweet, banana-shaped fruits that provide a vital food source for many desert animals.

Measurements & details

Height
50-300 cm
Spread
60-120 cm
Flower Size
5-10 cm
Bloom Season
Spring to early summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Yucca Moth

Tegeticula yuccasella

The moth meticulously transfers pollen to fertilize the flowers.

eats

Mule Deer

Odocoileus hemionus

Deer browse on the leaves and flowers when other forage is scarce.

eats

American Black Bear

Ursus americanus

Bears feast on the sweet, ripe yucca fruits during late summer.

shelters

Deer Mouse

Peromyscus maniculatus

Mice hide among its sharp leaves and consume the abundant seeds.

Traits

Also known as

Desert BananaYucca Fruit

Collections

Safety

Danger

2/5 · Low

Be careful around the sharp leaves; they can poke you!

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Banana Yucca?

50-300 cm

How wide does Banana Yucca spread?

60-120 cm

How big are the flowers on Banana Yucca?

5-10 cm

When does Banana Yucca bloom?

Spring to early summer

Is Banana Yucca edible?

Yes

Is Banana Yucca toxic?

None

What is Banana Yucca's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is Banana Yucca pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

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Recent Snaps

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Where to spot

More Plants