The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks are coming to life this spring and are covered with flowering plant life, including the unmissable sight of chaparral yucca. A native plant that can be found on the trails, chaparral yucca (Hesperoyucca whipplei) is also known as Our Lord’s Candle, Spanish bayonet, or Quixote yucca.
Native to southern California and Baja California, Mexico, chaparral yucca can be found in chaparral, coastal sage scrub and oak woodland plant communities. This plant species is drought tolerant and thrives in dry, clay soils.
Native to southern California and Baja California, Mexico, chaparral yucca can be found in chaparral, coastal sage scrub and oak woodland plant communities. This plant species is drought tolerant and thrives in dry, clay soils.
Chaparral yucca is a flowering plant, closely related to the genus Yucca, that can grow up to 15 feet in a matter of weeks. This perennial produces a cluster of slender, long leaves ending in sharp points and can take 5 - 10 years to mature. Once mature, a stalk shoots up from the center of the chaparral yucca, displaying a cascade of white and purple bell-shaped flowers. Though this center stalk will die after the plant’s flowers have been pollinated, it can remain upright for several years.
Throughout human history, different parts of the yucca plant have been used as a food source and fiber from the leaves were used to make rope, sandals, blankets, baskets and more. To learn more about native plant species throughout Orange County, visit IRConservancy.org, LetsGoOutside.org or follow the Landmarks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Throughout human history, different parts of the yucca plant have been used as a food source and fiber from the leaves were used to make rope, sandals, blankets, baskets and more. To learn more about native plant species throughout Orange County, visit IRConservancy.org, LetsGoOutside.org or follow the Landmarks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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