Mound lily yucca is an evergreen perennial in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae) native to the SE USA. It occurs in coastal habitats from NC to Florida, on dunes and shell middens. The species epithet is Latin for “glorious” and references the spectacular panicle of flowers. Mound lily yucca prefers well-drained sandy soils in full sun but tolerates most soils if they are well-drained and some shade. The plant tolerates heat, humidity, drought and salt spray and can tolerate some cold and snow. It grows as a shrub up to 16 feet tall but is relatively slow-growing. The leaves are in a basal rosette on younger plants and are sword-shaped with sharp tips. Eventually, mound lily yucca will develop a woody trunk with a more tree-like form. The large panicles of white bell-shaped flowers are a showstopper and occur late spring to mid-summer. The flowers attract the yucca moth ( Tegeticula yuccasella ), which performs pollination and whose larvae feed on the seeds. Also, bees and hummingbirds visit the flowers. Mound lily yucca is often used as a container plant and can be grown as a house plant. It can be used for naturalizing coastal areas, as a barrier, specimen or accent plant. Perfect for the rock or drought-tolerant garden. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 16 ft. 0 in. | Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect
Texture
Coarse
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf value
Long-lasting; Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Stiff, straight 1.5 to 2 feet long by 2½ inches wide, sword-like, glaucous green, sharp-tipped leaves
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Bell
Flower size
3-6 inches
Flower detail
Bell-shaped, pendulous, creamy white flowers are 4 inches long and tinged red or purple on erect 3- to 8-foot panicle. The plants flower between April and October.
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Berry
Fruit size
> 3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
The fruit is a 6-lobed leathery, elongate berry up to 6 inches long from November to December.
Attracts the yucca moth for pollination as well as the larva feeding on the seeds. Also, bees and hummingbirds visit the flowers.
Attracts
Moths
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Flowers; Roots; Stems
Harvest time
Fall; Winter
Fruit type
Berry
Edibility
Flowers, fruits, roots, and stems are edible. Flowers are tasty raw or cooked, and the stems can be used like asparagus. The roots can be cooked or dried and ground into a powder that can be used to make bread
Uses (ethnobotany)
Ropes, cloth, baskets, and mats are made from a fiber obtained from the leaves. Roots are sometimes used as a soap substitute.