Trees and Shrubs Overview
Ponderosa Pine   Pinyon Pine   Utah Juniper   Gambel Oak   Douglas-fir
Cliffrose   Apache Plume   Mormon Tea   Utah Serviceberry   Fernbush   Wax Currant   Big Sagebrush
Fremont Barberry   Rabbit Brush   Banana Yucca   Utah Agave   Mountain Mahogany   Blueberry Elder
Rock Mat   Brickellbush   Buffalo Berry

BANANA YUCCA

Agave Family

Yucca baccata

Banana Yucca

This plant with its formidable spiny leaves reminds one of a cactus, but it is closer to a lily. The rosette of leaves grows 18 to 36 inches tall. The plant is very common and conspicuous, single or growing in clumps of many individuals. Banana yucca was arguably the most useful plant to prehistoric Native Americans. The roots were pounded to make soap and shampoo. Leaves produced paintbrushes and cordage.







Yucca Fibers

Many white fibers exfoliate from leaf margins. These leaf fibers were woven into sandals, rope, string, cloth, nets and thread. When just three of the fibers are twisted together, almost no one can break them.








Yucca Flowers

The Banana Yucca flower stem grows to 5 feet or less. The hanging flowers are edible; they are large, yellow-white and bell-shaped. Summertime two to five inch fruits are also edible. Despite the name, the green fruits look more like large pickles than bananas.






Trees and Shrubs Overview
Ponderosa Pine   Pinyon Pine   Utah Juniper   Gambel Oak   Douglas-fir
Cliffrose   Apache Plume   Mormon Tea   Utah Serviceberry   Fernbush   Wax Currant   Big Sagebrush
Fremont Barberry   Rabbit Brush   Banana Yucca   Utah Agave   Mountain Mahogany   Blueberry Elder
Rock Mat   Brickellbush   Buffalo Berry
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