Virginia Tech Dendrology

narrowleaf yucca Agavaceae Yucca angustissima Engelm. ex Trel. Listen to the Latin symbol: YUAN2
Leaf: Evergreen, flexible, flattened, and narrowly strap-like, up to 2 feet long and 1/2 inch wide, yellow-green or gray-green on both surfaces, the leaf margins fibrous, tips sharp pointed.
Flower: Bell-shaped, to 2 1/2 inch long, initially pink, maturing to creamy white or yellow-green, occur at the growing tips in upright clusters that approach 4 feet tall, branched only near the tip of the cluster, appearing in spring.
Fruit: Dry capsules borne upright on the woody inflorescence, to 2 1/2 inches long, initially purple-green and drying to brown, ripening in early autumn.
Form: Dense, mounded clumps of leaves that reach 2 feet in height, but with upright inflorescences to 7 feet tall.
 Looks like: soaptree yucca
leaf form1 map
Additional Range Information: Yucca angustissima is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material © 2018 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range maps courtesy USGS from USDA "Atlas of United States Trees" by Elbert L. Little, Jr., Vol. 1 (1971) 3 (1976) 4 (1977) 5 (1978)