Interestingly, these patients also had significant reductions in blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels, and a reduction in the incidence of migraine headaches from baseline. The NASA Clean Air Study found that certain indoor plants can actually remove harmful toxins from the air. Donate   About   Events & Programs   Join Our Team   Consulting, outreach@organicgrowersschool.org   (828) 214-7833   PO Box 17804 Asheville, NC 28816. The name yucca applies to as many as 40 species of trees and shrubs found mostly in arid portions of North America. This limited evidence suggests the extract may be effective in the management of arthritis, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. The plant has also been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of arthritis, colitis, hypertension and migraine headaches. These moths are important for the plant’s survival, as they are its only pollinator. To divide a yucca plant, remove it from its pot and use a pair of clean gardening shears to cut the yucca plant into two at the rhizome. We would want to plow food security,  as such we do not have starting capacity/ capital. Additional yucca benefits: Fruits from the stalk could be eaten raw or else roasted. Your email address will not be published. It is planted as a living fence in Cuba and is also frequently cultivated as an ornamental in the tropics, subtropics and the warm-temperate zone [ 317 Native to the southwest United States, Baja California, and Mexico. However, there are many other Yucca uses, from food to fire-starting. Yucca atkinsii Baker. The flowers are pollinated by Moth. The Indians and early Californian settlers used the green pods for food. Yucca has also been used as a food supplement. Yuccas will germinate quickly from fresh seed held over winter, and they germinate best in 60-70 degree temperatures. Yucca plant care is very simple, as yucca plants require little water and attention. Yucca is the common name for the more than 40 species of plants in the Yucca genus. Although growing yucca for food is less common than yuca, yucca has many other uses. Yucca plants have the appearance of palm trees, so growing them in your backyard or indoors can create a tropical look. Yucca purpurea Baker. However, what we classify as a nuisance, can quickly be turned into a benefit with a change in perspective. The high amount of vitamin C and antioxidants present in the plant also boosts the immune system and overall health, protecting us from cell mutations and free radical damage. Yucca quadricolor Baker. Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. All yucca plants depend for pollination on nocturnal yucca moths. Many species also bear edible parts, including fruits, seeds, flowers, flowering stems, and more rarely roots. By selling these Yucco we can be able to raise over R5m which we intend in re investing in the business for food security purposes. The plant is purported to be be… More Yucca Uses: Food, Soap, Fire Starters, and Fishing In our first post about Yucca plants, we showed how to turn the fibrous leaves into improvised cordage, which is an invaluable skill if you're going to be trying to survive in a desert environment. Current commercial uses of yucca extracts include foaming agents in carbonated beverages, flavorings, and for use in drug synthesis research. The spiky leaves can reach heights of 2 to 3 feet (.6-1 m.). Yucca also has been used in soaps, shampoos, and food supplements. More common yucca uses stem from the employment of the tough leaves as fiber sources for weaving, while the central stalk and sometimes the roots can be made into a strong soap. Adam's needle is the most commonly used variety of yucca, due to the plethora of benefits it possesses [2]. The root of the non-flowering plant is used to make medicine. Yucca plants are famed for their large, spiky leaves growing on the top of long, thick woody stems. A solid extract is derived from the leaves; the Mohave yucca is the most common commercially used plant. Also known as Mojave yucca, this flowering evergreen succulent is a hardy plant that thrives in sun and requires little water. Yucca plants are deer resistant, but they aren’t repulsive to other creatures. The evidence supporting these claims is generally sparse. Banana yucca (Yucca baccata) – Banana yucca is a Southwestern native plant that needs very little water and no maintenance. Mojave Yucca plant uses. The farm was previously plowing Yucco. The yucca is therefore a simple to care for but effective and beneficial plant, which every gardener should have in their home garden. Common Name: Spanish Bayonet. Furthermore, when placed indoors the yucca has notable air cleaning properties and is able to remove toxins from the air. Yucca plant care is very simple, as yucca plants require little water and attention. Yucca tricolor Baker. Other common yuccas include Y. schidigera (Mohave yucca) and Y. brevifolia (Joshua tree), which grows to 60 feet in height and commonly is found at the bases of desert mountains. Another way to use yucca as cordage is to put the naturally spiked end of the plant to work. There is no recent clinical evidence upon which dosing recommendations for yucca can be based. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid soils. Yuccas are widely grown as ornamental plants in gardens. Jennifer Holt is a freelance writer and mother of two, who loves nothing more than to play, “where has the cat hidden itself now.”. 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