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Banana Yucca

Yucca baccata

true

1 gallon

Banana Yucca

In stock

3'x6'

Sizes:

Yucca baccata – Banana Yucca

The Banana Yucca gets its name from its distinctive banana-shaped, fleshy fruit. Closely related to the Mojave Yucca (Yucca schidigera), it often intermingles with it where their ranges overlap, and hybrids can occur — a true botanical love story in the desert. It is also related to the Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia) and is primarily found in Joshua Tree woodlands and surrounding desert areas.

Unlike most yuccas that produce dry, hard fruits, Banana Yucca bears succulent fruits resembling short, fat green bananas that ripen in September and are edible. The plant features wide, sword-shaped leaves growing up to 2–3 feet long, and showy white flowers appear on tall stalks 3–4 feet high.

Traditionally, the Banana Yucca has had many uses: the leaf blades can be woven into baskets or made into brushes, and after removing the fleshy tissue, the stiff fibers remaining were fashioned into a combined needle and thread. Additionally, the roots were valued for their natural soap qualities.

The fleshy fruits attract a variety of birds and insects, supporting local wildlife in desert ecosystems.

Wildlife Value
Banana Yucca plays an important role in desert habitats by providing food and shelter for many species. The yucca-moth partnership really is a botanical love story — pollination, egg-laying, caterpillars, and seeds all intertwined. Its flowers attract pollinators such as yucca moths, which have a specialized mutualistic relationship with yuccas. The fleshy fruits offer nutrition for birds and small mammals, and the dense leaves provide shelter and nesting material.

Host Plant: Yucca Moth (Tegeticula spp.) — essential pollinators and obligate mutualists

Nectar Source: Yucca Moths, native bees, hummingbirds (Anna’s Calypte anna and Costa’s Calypte costae)

Bird Resources: Fleshy fruit, shelter, nesting material

Bird Species: Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii), Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)

Bees: native (general)

Plant Care

Native region:

Local Native; Mojave Desert

Water needs:

Low

Exposure:

Full Sun; Filtered Sun

Mature size:

3'x6'

Growth rate:

Moderate

Flower color:

White

Flower season:

Spring

Pruning:

None

Cold Hardiness:

0 Degrees

Nectar-producing:

Yes

Attracts pollinators:

Yes

Nighttime pollinators:

Yes

Butterflies or Moths:

Yes

Monarchs:

Larval host:

Yes

Bees:

Yes

Bats:

Birds:

Yes

Nest site:

Nest materials:

Yes

Rabbit-resistant:

Yes

Tortoises:

Growing Plants in the Desert — Important Information

The information presented here is, to the best of my knowledge, accurate and based on reliable research, personal experience in my own garden, observations from other gardens I’ve visited, and time spent studying plants in their native habitats. I always welcome your feedback and experiences to help me continue educating others!

Cacti:
In my experience, cacti are much happier in filtered shade here in the low desert of the Coachella Valley. Their colors are more vibrant and they tend to bloom more profusely, especially the non-native varieties. If you look closely at how our native barrel cactus and beavertail prickly pear grow in the wild, you’ll often find them tucked among rocks or beneath the shelter of creosote and other shrubs.

⚠️ A note of caution: Cacti and succulents are often illegally collected from the wild, which not only damages plant populations but also disturbs entire ecosystems. In some cases, wild populations of cacti have even gone extinct because of this practice. When purchasing these plants, always be sure they’ve been legally obtained. Look for nursery-grown stock or plants with a native plant certification, and keep that documentation for your records.

Light Requirements:
In our desert (Sonoran/Colorado), “full sun” doesn’t always mean what you might think. Many so-called full-sun plants benefit from and actually appreciate some late-afternoon filtered light—especially during the intense summer months.