Flower profile

Chaparral yucca

Hesperoyucca whipplei

Chaparral yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei) is a shrub in the Asparagaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.

Native to California

Chaparral yucca is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In California it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.

2states where USDA records it

26,153CA sightings*

26,159U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: California

Quick look

Hesperoyucca whipplei, the chaparral yucca, our Lord's candle, Spanish bayonet, Quixote yucca or foothill yucca, is a species of flowering plant closely related to, and formerly usually included in, the genus Yucca. It is native to southwest communities of North America.
From Wikipedia's article Hesperoyucca whipplei, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Asparagaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) / a shrub with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 2 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to California. ^NatureServe
In California, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 4 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 26,153 research-grade sightings of it in California, ranking #13 among the 178 flowers on our California list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In California, most flowering sightings come in April–June.

Flowering records by month in California (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (4,355 records)

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA): Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}
NatureServe global: G4 Apparently secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
California: Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in California. ^{CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)}
Rare elsewhere: No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records chaparral yucca in 2 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California.

California counties with USDA records: Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, Ventura.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Chaparral yucca a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.4 to 8.5 and winter lows down to 7 °F.

Shade tolerance: High
Drought tolerance: High
Moisture use: Low
Soil textures it is adapted to: coarse, medium
Soil pH range: 6.4 to 8.5
Minimum temperature tolerated: 7 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 200
Annual precipitation range: 8 to 14 inches
Minimum root depth: 14 inches
Salinity tolerance: Low
Fertility requirement: Low
Growth rate: Slow
Lifespan: Long
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by: bare root, container, seed, sprigs
Commercial availability: No Known Source

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for HEWH. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Yucca californica, Yucca graminifolia, Yucca nitida, Yucca whipplei.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 14 counties across 2 states; the most are in California (13), Arizona (1).

More from the Asparagaceae family (34 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Yuccas, Solomon's plume (false Solomon's seal), Canada mayflower, Blue dicks, Common star-of-Bethlehem, Star-flowered lily-of-the-valley, Mojave yucca, Wavy-leafed soap plant.

More California flowers

Blue dicks

Dipterostemon capitatus

🌼 Blooms in CA: February–May

Wavy-leafed soap plant

Chlorogalum pomeridianum

Native

🌼 Blooms in CA: May–July

Western joshua tree

Yucca brevifolia

Native

🌼 Blooms in CA: March–April

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile HEWH.
iNaturalist, Hesperoyucca whipplei: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Hesperoyucca whipplei (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
California: California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026).
California: California noxious weed species (3 CCR § 4500).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Hesperoyucca whipplei (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: velodrome via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.