Yucca gloriosa Linneaus

Synonyms:
Yucca gloriosa var. acuminata Carriere, Revue Horticole 1868: 157 (1868)
Yucca gloriosa var. ellacombei Bak.
Yucca gloriosa var. flexilis (Carriere) Trelease in Bailey, Cyclop. Amer. Hort. 2001 (1902)
Yucca gloriosa var. mollis Carriere, Revue Horticole 9: 362 (1860)
Yucca gloriosa var. nobilis Carr.
Yucca gloriosa var. plicata Carr
Yucca gloriosa var. robusta Carr.
Yucca gloriosa var. suberba Baker.
Yucca gloriosa forma obliqua (Haworth) Voss, Vilmorin Blumengarten (ed. 3) 1: 1057 (1896)
Yucca gloriosa forma rufocinta (Haworth) Voss, Vilmorin Blumengarten (ed. 3) 1: 1057 (1896)
Yucca gloriosa forma tortulata (Baker) Voss, Vilmorin Blumengarten (ed. 3) 1: 1057 (1896)
Yucca gloriosa forma recurvifolia (salisb) Voss, Vilmorin Blumengarten (ed. 3) 1: 1057 (1896)

Clones and Hybrids:
Yucca baileyi x gloriosa, made by Demeter Janakidisz, from Botanical Garden in Budapest, Hungary.
Yucca 'Elegantissima' x Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej". Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 2008, BMJ # 2102, #2103.
Yucca filamentosa [concava?] x gloriosa f. nobilis, Made by Mark van Zwet, The Netherlands. van Zwet hybrid #54
Yucca flaccida [forma glaucescens] x Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej". Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 2008, BMJ # 2105.
Yucca 'Karlsruhensis Type 2' x Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej". Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 2008, BMJ # 2078.
Yucca gloriosa mediostriata (leaves with yellow center). (variegated)
Yucca gloriosa variegata (leaves with yellow edge). (variegated)
Yucca 'Medio-picta' Carriere (1880) (variegated)
Yucca gloriosa mediostriata = Yucca 'Medio-picta'. (variegated)
Yucca gloriosa 'Cream Heart' (variegated)
Yucca gloriosa 'Dodo' (variegated)
Yucca gloriosa 'Moon Frost' (maybe = Yucca elephantipes 'Jewel'?) (variegated)
Yucca gloriosa 'Tiny Star' (variegated)
Yucca gloriosa forma robusta × elata, made by Ferenc Kurilla and Demeter Janakidisz  from Botanical Garden in Budapest, Hungary.
Yucca gloriosa forma nobilis x recurvifolia/gloriosa Virginia form?. Made by Mark van Zwet, The Netherlands. van Zwet hybrid #50.
Yucca gloriosa forma nobilis  x 'Floribunda'. Made by Mark van Zwet, The Netherlands. van Zwet hybrid #51.
Yucca gloriosa forma nobilis  x flaccida hybrid?. Made by Mark van Zwet, The Netherlands. van Zwet hybrid #52.
Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej" x Yucca "Jensen Hybrid" #1823  (Pollen from Steen Stjerne, Denmark). Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 2008, BMJ # 2115, # 2116.
Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej" x Yucca hybrid #500. Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 2008, BMJ # 2117, # 2118, # 2152.
Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej" x Yucca arkansana (media leafed form). Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 2008, BMJ # 2119, # 2120.
Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej" x Yucca 'Bright Edge'. Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 22008 BMJ # 2121.
Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej" x Yucca elata (Pollen from Ruud Wouterson, The Netherlands). Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 2008, BMJ # 2122, # 2123
Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej" x Yucca 'Elegantissima'. Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 2008, BMJ # 2124, # 2125. # 2126.
Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej" x Yucca filamentosa (Franklin Co., North Carolina). Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 2008, BMJ # 2127, # 2128.
Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej" x Yucca filamentosa (garden form). Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 2008, BMJ # 2129.
Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej" x Yucca filamentosa ? Concordia, Kansas, fh 1178.54. Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 2008, BMJ # 2134, # 2135, # 2136.
Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej" x Yucca filamentosa ? (very small flowers). Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 2008, BMJ # 2137.
Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej" x Yucca 'Filata' (pollen from Tim Behan, U.S.A.). Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 2008, BMJ # 2138.
Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej" x Yucca flaccida. Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 2008, BMJ # 2139, # 2140.
Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej" x Yucca flaccida [forma glaucescens]. Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 2008, BMJ # 2141, # 2142.
Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej" x Yucca 'Golden Sword'. Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 2008, BMJ # 2143, #2144.
Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej" x Yucca 'Karlsruhensis type 2'. Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 2008, BMJ # 2145, # 2146, # 2147, # 2148, # 2149.
Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej" x Yucca rostrata (Pollen from Ruud Wouterson, The Netherlands). Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 2008, BMJ # 2150, # 2151.
Yucca sp. [gloriosa forma robusta] "Hæstrupvej" x Yucca hybrid #1402 [big "blue" form of Y. filamentosa ?]. Made by Benny M. Jensen, Denmark, in 2008, BMJ # 2130, # 2131. # 2132, # 2133.
Yucca X Minerva,  Hybrid by Sprenger = Yucca treculeana x Yucca gloriosa
Yucca X Nicotrana,  Yucca gloriosa x Yucca filamentosa
Yucca X Rex, Yucca gloriosa x Yucca filamentosa
Yucca X Dux, Yucca gloriosa robusta x flaccida
Yucca X luxurians, Yucca gloriosa longifolia x flaccida
Yucca X Darwinii, Yucca gloriosa plicata x Yucca recurvifolia
Yucca X aletrodes, Yucca rupicola x  gloriosa
Yucca X Europa, Yucca aloifoliax Yucca gloriosa
Yucca X Naudiniana, Yucca aloifoliax Yucca gloriosa
Yucca X vomerensis, Yucca aloifoliax Yucca gloriosa
Yucca X albella, Yucca filamentosa xYucca gloriosa
Yucca X candida, Yucca filamentosa xYucca gloriosa
Yucca X Engelmanii, Yucca filamentosa xYucca gloriosa
Yucca X ensata, Yucca filamentosa xYucca gloriosa
Yucca X floribunda, Yucca filamentosa x Yucca gloriosa
Yucca X margaritacea, Yucca filamentosa xYucca gloriosa
Yucca X micans, Yucca filamentosa xYucca gloriosa
Yucca X Moraea, Yucca filamentosa xYucca gloriosa
Yucca X Parthenope, Yucca filamentosa xYucca gloriosa
Yucca X preacox, Yucca filamentosa xYucca gloriosa
Yucca X Rekowskiana, Yucca filamentosa xYucca gloriosa
Yucca X robusta, Yucca filamentosa xYucca gloriosa
Yucca X Triton, Yucca filamentosa xYucca gloriosa
Yucca X Wilhelmi (Gugielmi), Yucca filamentosa xYucca gloriosa
Yucca X bicolor, Yucca filamentosa media x Yucca gloriosa
Yucca X elegantissima, Yucca filamentosa media x Yucca gloriosa
Yucca X elmensis ('St. Elmo'), Yucca filamentosa media x Yucca gloriosa
Yucca X luxurians, Yucca flaccida x  Yucca gloriosa longifolia
Yucca X Colombiana, Yucca flaccida glaucescens x Yucca gloriosa
Yucca X formosa, Yucca flaccida glaucescens x Yucca gloriosa
Yucca X formosissima, Yucca flaccida glaucescens x Yucca gloriosa
Yucca X nebularis, Yucca flaccida glaucescens x Yucca gloriosa

Unpublished names:
Yucca gloriosa Hort not Linneaus = Yucca elephantipes !

Type location:

Distribution:
Yucca gloriosa is native to sand dunes in southeastern United States, at the Atlantic coast from southernmost South Carolina to northernmost Florida (AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC).
 

Yucca aloifolia x  filamentosa, made by Demeter Janakidisz, from Botanical Garden in Budapest, Hungary. © 2008 Demeter Janakidisz	Yucca aloifolia x  filamentosa, made by Demeter Janakidisz, from Botanical Garden in Budapest, Hungary. © 2008 Demeter Janakidisz	Yucca aloifolia x  filamentosa, made by Demeter Janakidisz, from Botanical Garden in Budapest, Hungary. © 2008 Demeter Janakidisz	Yucca aloifolia x  filamentosa, made by Demeter Janakidisz, from Botanical Garden in Budapest, Hungary. © 2008 Demeter Janakidisz

There are now evidens that Yucca gloriosa very well might be a natural hybrid of Yucca aloifolia x  filamentosa, Demeter Janakidisz, from Botanical Garden in Budapest, Hungary did make this cross and the seedlings did grow up to be plants very much identical of Yucca gloriosa. They are so identical that experts would not be able to say which plant were the hybrid and which were the species.

Short description of the species:
Plant short caulescent and caespitose, or with a trunk up to 3 to 5 meter high. Leaves rigid, upright, generally concave, 40 to 60 cm long, up to 5 cm wide, underside smooth, light green to dark green with a short brown spine at the leaf tip. Inflorescence mostly narrowly paniculate, the base often not exerted, glabrous or exceptionally puberulent. This species usually bloom in the late summer to early fall. Flowers creamy white, often tinged with red or violet. Ovary often with a slight suggestion of basal stripe. Style Oblong, white, frequently three-divided. Fruit obovoid-oblong, mostly pendent, with six prominent ridges, the thin exocarp soon drying about the core. Seeds Black, glossy,  5-6 x 6-7 mm, slightly grooved as if the albumen were ruminated

Hardiness:
I have only tried one form of this species in open garden, and everything above the ground were killed in the hard winter of 1995-96. I know of several plants that has survived many winters further south in Denmark, and I hope to find a place in our garden, were it can grow to a big beautiful plant. I have plants of Yucca gloriosa that are grown in pots, that are stored in the unheated greenhouse during the winter, they are doing fine here in the Northern Denmark.
I have read that Yucca gloriosa is completely cold hardy in the Baltimore-Washington area, and as far north as New York.

Notes:
Yucca gloriosa was introduced into cultivation in England around 1550. I don't know when it was introduced into cultivation here in Denmark.

I believe that many of the plants of Yucca gloriosa (and Yucca recurvifolia) that are sold and grown in Europe are hybrids. But it's very difficult to know if the plant one is growing is a true species or a hybrid since the hybrids looks just like the species. To this I can only say enjoy the plant you are growing, it doesn't care what you call it!

In some places this species is endangered, and you can find Yucca gloriosa on the list of endangered species in North Carolina.

I have read that some plants cultivated and sold in the US is actually Yucca elephantipes.

Pictures:
 

This photo is of a cultivated Yucca gloriosa at Budapest Botanical Garden in Hungary. Photo by Andrew Treer, Budapest ©1999.	Yucca gloriosa This photo is of another cultivated plant at Budapest Botanical Garden in Hungary. © 2003 Demeter Janakidisz	Yucca gloriosa var. robusta, cultivated plant at Budapest Botanical Garden in Hungary. © 2008 Demeter Janakidisz	Yucca gloriosa var. robusta, cultivated plant at Budapest Botanical Garden in Hungary. © 2008 Demeter Janakidisz
Yucca gloriosa a form from Croatia, cultivated plant at Budapest Botanical Garden in Hungary. © 2008 Demeter Janakidisz
Yucca gloriosa  Grown in Alexander Heim's garden in Greece. Copyright 2007 Alexander Heim.	Yucca gloriosa  Grown in Alexander Heim's garden in Greece. Copyright 2007 Alexander Heim.	Yucca gloriosa mediovariegata, Grown in Alexander Heim's garden in Greece. Copyright 2007 Alexander Heim.	Yucca gloriosa variegata Grown in Alexander Heim's garden ins Greece. Copyright 2007 Alexander Heim.

If you have some other photos that I may use, please let me know!

#755 Yucca gloriosa, planted in 1994 all above ground where killed during the severe winyer 1995-96, this plant is NOT Yucca gloriosa, but some kind of hybrid.
#1467 Yucca gloriosa, root-cutting planted 2000, this one has very stiff leaves with sharp brown spine.
#1521  Yucca gloriosa?, Georgetown, South Carolina, fh 1182.21, sown 2003. This plant is not Yucca gloriosa but Yucca aloifolia or a hybrid with this species!
#1467 Yucca gloriosa? planted 2000 KNP  stiff leaves with sharp blown spine
#1579 Yucca gloriosa, planted 2001 from a A-Z super-marked in Denmark

#1580 Yucca gloriosa variegata (left) and #817 Yucca 'Golden Sword' (right), August 17th. 2003.
© 2003 Benny Møller Jensen.

Im still working with this species and eventually I will add more details and references to this page.