Flower profile

Twisted-leaf yucca

Yucca rupicola

Twisted-leaf yucca (Yucca rupicola) is a shrub in the Asparagaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–May across the U.S.

Native to Texas

Twisted-leaf yucca is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Texas it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.

1states where USDA records it

9,517TX sightings*

9,517U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Texas

Quick look

Yucca rupicola is a plant in the family Asparagaceae, known as the twistleaf yucca, twisted-leaf yucca, Texas yucca or twisted-leaf Spanish-dagger. The species was described by George Heinrich Adolf Scheele in 1850. This is a small, acaulescent plant with distinctive twisted leaves. It is native Texas and northeastern Mexico.
From Wikipedia's article Yucca rupicola, 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 1 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Texas. ^NatureServe
In Texas, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 9,517 research-grade sightings of it in Texas, ranking #60 among the 169 flowers on our Texas list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

In Texas, most flowering sightings come in April–May.

Flowering records by month in Texas (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (51 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: G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe
Texas: Not listed Not on Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Texas. ^{31 TAC 69.8}
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 twisted-leaf yucca in 1 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Texas.

Texas counties with USDA records: Bandera, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Burnet, Comal, Gillespie, Hays, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Lampasas, Llano, Mason, McCulloch, McLennan, Mills, San Saba, Schleicher, Sutton, Tarrant, Travis, Uvalde, Williamson.

Names, range and relatives

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Yucca tortifolia.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 24 counties across 1 states; the most are in Texas (24).

Other Yucca on Bloomipedia (10): Yuccas, Mojave yucca, Soaptree yucca, Western joshua tree, Banana yucca, Great Plains yucca, Eastern Joshua tree, 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 Texas flowers

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Firewheel

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Silverleaf nightshade

Solanum elaeagnifolium

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Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile YURU.
iNaturalist, Yucca rupicola: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Yucca rupicola (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Texas: Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Texas: Texas noxious and invasive plant list (4 Tex. Admin. Code § 19.300(a)).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Yucca rupicola (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: ASPCA.
Photo: Rachel via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.