Bloomipedia
Soaptree yucca (Yucca elata)
Photo: Wendy McCrady via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Soaptree yucca

Yucca elata

Soaptree yucca (Yucca elata) is a shrub or small tree in the Asparagaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–June across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Soaptree yucca is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.

5states where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
18,593U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Arizona, New Mexico

Quick look

Yucca elata is a perennial plant, with common names that include soaptree, soaptree yucca, soapweed, and palmella. It is native to southwestern North America, in the Sonoran Desert and Chihuahuan Desert in the United States, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, and northern Mexico. Yucca elata is widely distributed, although its population appears to be decreasing.

  • It belongs to the Asparagaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 5 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to New Mexico and Arizona. NatureServe
  • 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 20 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 8,639 research-grade sightings of it in New Mexico, ranking #3 among the 152 flowers on our New Mexico list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 7,875 research-grade sightings of it in Arizona, ranking #10 among the 132 flowers on our Arizona list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (112 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
New MexicoNativefew records (42)8,639
ArizonaNativefew records (41)7,875

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
New Mexico
Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Mexico. 19.21.2.9 NMAC
Arizona
Not listed Not on Arizona Native Plant Law protected plants (Ariz. Admin. Code R3-3 Art. 11, App. A, eff. Feb. 2, 2025). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Arizona. AAC R3-3 App. A
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 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 soaptree yucca in 5 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah.

New Mexico counties with USDA records: Bernalillo, Chaves, Dona Ana, Eddy, Grant, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Luna, Otero, Sierra, Socorro, Valencia.

Arizona counties with USDA records: Apache, Cochise, Coconino, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, Maricopa, Navajo, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yavapai, Yuma.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Soaptree 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 -13 °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
-13 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
150
Annual precipitation range
10 to 15 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 YUEL. 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 utahensis, Yucca verdiensis.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 39 counties across 5 states; the most are in Arizona (14), New Mexico (13), Texas (8).

Other Yucca on Bloomipedia (10): Yuccas, Mojave yucca, Western joshua tree, Banana yucca, Great Plains 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.

More New Mexico flowers

Yuccas (Yucca)

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★ NM state flower

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Banana yucca (Yucca baccata)

Banana yucca

Yucca baccata

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Wheeler sotol (Dasylirion wheeleri)

Wheeler sotol

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🌼 Few flowering records in NM

Sources