Stats

Lifespan

20-50 yrs

Size

Medium

Diet

Photosynthetic

Biome

Coastal dunes

Range

North America

Movement

Sessile

Breeding

Seeds

Defense

Spines

Status

Uncommon

About

This variegated shrub grows along sandy coastal dunes in the southeastern states. Its sharp leaves contain microscopic silica crystals that can slice through thick leather.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   seed

   A dormant seed waits for water and warmth before germinating.
2. 2.
   sprout

   A first shoot emerges with cotyledon leaves and a tap root reaching down.
3. 3.
   sapling

   A young plant grows true leaves and a stem or trunk, putting on height each season.
4. 4.
   mature

   Fully grown, flowering or fruiting at adult size.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Liliopsida

Order

Asparagales

Family

Asparagaceae

Genus

Yucca

Species

Yucca gloriosa