Bloomipedia
Great Plains yucca (Yucca glauca)
Photo: John Gaskin via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized

Flower profile

Great Plains yucca

Yucca glauca

Great Plains yucca (Yucca glauca) is a shrub in the Asparagaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–June across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Great Plains yucca is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 7 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.

13states where USDA records it
7Bloomipedia state lists include it
11,901U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming

Quick look

Yucca glauca is a species of perennial evergreen plant, adapted to xeric (dry) growth conditions. It is also known as small soapweed, soapweed yucca, Spanish bayonet, and Great Plains yucca.

  • 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 13 states. USDA PLANTS
  • In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–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 1 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 7,988 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #5 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 821 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #46 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 766 research-grade sightings of it in Nebraska, ranking #4 among the 147 flowers on our Nebraska list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (158 records)
Bloom time in the 7 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ColoradoNativeMay–June7,988
MontanaNativefew records (10)821
NebraskaNativefew records (9)766
South DakotaNativefew records (5)661
WyomingNativefew records (6)513
KansasNativefew records (4)318
North DakotaNativefew records (9)255

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Colorado.
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Montana.
Nebraska
Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Nebraska. 163 NAC 4-004
South Dakota
No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Dakota.
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Wyoming.
Kansas
No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants. NatureServe: S5, secure in Kansas.
North Dakota
No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in North Dakota.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MO (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

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

Can you eat it?

For peopleCaution: partly edible, partly poisonous

NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: roots. Symptoms they list: “Dogs, cats: Vomiting; Horses: liver disease, dermatitis” They also note: “The fruit, flowers, flower buds, stem and seedpods can be eaten.” NC State Extension

For petsToxic to dogs, cats and horses

ASPCA's entry “Yucca” (Yucca spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Dogs, cats: Vomiting; Horses: liver disease… ASPCA

🌿 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 great Plains yucca in 13 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Arapahoe, Baca, Bent, Boulder, Cheyenne, Conejos, Custer, Denver, Eagle, El Paso, Fremont, Jefferson, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Larimer, Las Animas, Lincoln, Logan, Mineral, Otero, Prowers, Pueblo, Sedgwick, Teller, Washington, Weld, Yuma.

Montana counties with USDA records: Carter, Cascade, Custer, Flathead, Gallatin, Garfield, Hill, McCone, Petroleum, Phillips, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Treasure, Valley, Wibaux, Yellowstone.

Nebraska counties with USDA records: Antelope, Banner, Blaine, Boone, Boyd, Cass, Cedar, Cherry, Cuming, Custer, Dawes, Dawson, Deuel, Dixon, Frontier, Furnas, Garden, Grant, Greeley, Hall, Harlan, Hitchcock, Holt, Hooker, Kearney, Knox, Lincoln, Madison, Morrill, Nance, Pierce, Red Willow, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan, Sioux, Stanton, Thayer, Thomas, Webster.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Great Plains yucca a high shade tolerance, high drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 7.0 to 8.5 and winter lows down to -28 °F.

Shade tolerance
High
Drought tolerance
High
Moisture use
Low
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium
Soil pH range
7.0 to 8.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
-28 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
140
Annual precipitation range
7 to 60 inches
Minimum root depth
6 inches
Salinity tolerance
Medium
Fertility requirement
Low
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Short
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Black · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, seed
Commercial availability
Field Collections Only

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

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 289 counties across 12 states; the most are in Kansas (65), Texas (56), Nebraska (39).

Other Yucca on Bloomipedia (10): Yuccas, Mojave yucca, Soaptree yucca, Western joshua tree, Banana yucca, Eastern Joshua tree, Twisted-leaf yucca, Common yucca, Torrey's yucca, Dwarf yucca.

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

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Sources