by CMG Betty J
Twisted Leaf Yucca
A common native yucca in the Texas Hill Country is the Twistleaf Yucca, Yucca rupicola. Also known as Texas Yucca or Twisted-Leaf Yucca, it is a member of the Century Plant family and is endemic to the Edwards Plateau. It thrives in dry, rocky, open areas, limestone ledges as well as lush grasslands with caliche, sandy loam, clay loam, clay or limestone soils. This perennial is cold tolerant and does not suffer from dry conditions.
Twisted Leaf Yucca
The foliage grows only to about 2 feet but the flower stems sometimes top 5 feet tall. The leaves are edged with white or red and the young leaves are straight but curl and twist as they mature. The flower spikes hold a cluster of bell-shaped, scented, white flowers with lush petals that are up to 2 ½ inches long and an inch wide. Bloom time is from April to June.
The Twistleaf Yucca is a good addition to a rock garden; the showy flowers add a dramatic accent. Deer will eat the flowers but seldom browse the leaves. Deer repellent spray is somewhat effective in protecting the blooms. These yucca flowers attract night-pollinating moths. Butterflies also drink their nectar, and they are the larval host to Kendall’s yucca skipper butterfly.
