Soapweed - known as yucca plant, is used to make natural soaps and other earth friendly bath and body products. The fruit is a dry capsule that contains thin, flat, disc-shaped seeds that are light enough to be dispersed by wind. The root of the non-flowering plant is used to make medicine. One plant that people of the plains have traditionally found very useful is the ever-so-common soapweed yucca. Small Soapweed Acoma - Food, Fruit Use documented by: Castetter, Edward F., 1935, Ethnobiological Studies in the American Southwest I. Uncultivated Native Plants Used as Sources of Food, University of New Mexico Bulletin 4(1):1-44, page 55 View all documented uses for Yucca glauca Nutt. Historically, yucca was used primarily for its fiber, which was woven into fabric and twisted into rope. Crushed roots produce a lather that is great as a soap or shampoo. USA: 4 to 10; UK H4, hardy to –10°C. You’ll see things you never saw before, and begin to see abundance where you once saw only barrenness. Yucca glauca inflorescence.jpg 494 × 749; 169 KB. The flowers of soapweed yucca are a crisp and tasty treat if you catch them at the right time of year. Soapweed Yucca. Prior to European settlement, Native Americans used yucca for food, fiber, and shampoo. Leaf fibers have been used to make brushes, cords, and ropes. Yucca elata grows from 1.2 - 4.5 m tall, with a sparsely branched trunk. Soapweed contains saponins and resveratrol. Once you have located the soapweed, remove several leaves using your knife. Yucca glauca by Nick.JPG 3.872 × 2.592; 3,74 MB. You can also make a fine soap if you want to experiment with primitive skills. The leaves are arranged in a dense spiral whorl at the apex of the stems, each leaf 25–95 cm long and very slender, 0.2-1.3 cm broad. Uses. Older plants usually have multiple stalks and will form a large spiky clump. Select healthy green leaves. ( Log Out /  These roots were mixed with roots of uŋkcéla blaská (flat cactus) to help mothers when they cannot give birth; but they're in danger that this may make hokśiyuhapi śni pejúťa (“medicine for not give birth”). Life Cycle / Plant Type: Perennial, Succulents and Cacti Plant Details. Dosages of Yucca: Suggested Dosing. Yucca is used for osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, migraine headaches, inflammation of the intestine (), high cholesterol, stomach disorders, diabetes, poor circulation, and liver and gallbladder disorders. It is another thing entirely to practice it. In a land that may seem bleak, knowing the uses of soapweed yucca is a must. Yucca glauca Growing and Care Guide. One of the most alluring aspects of learning about skills of the past is the new perspective you develop about the world. The stiff, narrow and pointed leaves are 20 to 50 cm in length. To do so, pound the leaf between two pieces of wood. For those interested in learning more about the uses of different plants, you might find this article useful about the 8 uses of cattail from hunting to dinner plate. Surely Lewis and Clark would have been fascinated by the symbiosis of the yucca and the moth, could they have but observed it. Once you have located the soapweed, remove several leaves using your knife. The trunk is brown, cylindrical in shape and has a small diameter and often has holes drilled by escaping yucca moth larvae. Incidentally, yucca plants can also be used to boost the health of your local ecosystem. There are some 40 to 50 species of yucca, most notable for their rosettes of hard, tough, spiny-tipped leaves (the spineless yucca is among the few species with a soft, spineless leaf), but few are offered as houseplants, probably because of their … The same can be said for the expansive grasslands of our prairie lands. The sharp points of the leaves have been used as needles[257]. Another way to use yucca as cordage is to put the naturally spiked end of the plant to work. Yucca glauca fh 1178.62 SD B.jpg 640 × 427; 361 KB. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. You can easily add more water, while removing it once you start the process can cause you to lose some of the soap. The first way that I came to realize the utility of yucca, was when I started making cordage from the leaves. Common name: soapweed. Historically, this area has always been one of low human population. ), hereafter referred to as yucca, is a native perennial shrub found throughout much of Nebraska and the Great Plains (Figure 1) including central Canada and the Texas Panhandle. ), hereafter referred to as yucca, is a native perennial shrub found throughout much of Nebraska and the Great Plains (Figure 1) including central Canada and the Texas Panhandle. The lance-like leaves are stiff, coarse, and sharp but worth the blood-letting for the tall spikes of whitish pendulant flowers. If you enjoyed it, please follow this blog by clicking the button near the bottom of the page. It takes one medium-sized plant to make enough for 12 shampoos. Prior to European settlement, Native Americans used yucca for food, fiber, and shampoo. The roots have a red core and have been used to ornament baskets[257]. No typical dosing guidelines; Traditionally 380-490 mg of powdered yucca stalk or root two to three times daily It is a very useful plant in regards to cordage, and is one of your only option for fire on the grassy plains. Within the root of the plant there is a compound called saponin. This compound is the agent that you need to get at to make soap. Please Come Join Us at Softtracks.org, Follow Soft Tracks Outdoors on WordPress.com. Scientific name: Yucca glauca. reference this article I penned for Offthegridnews.com. They were also sparsely settled and many had adapted a nomadic life well suited to this vast land. Don’t overdo it on the water. These will be used to create the cordage. Like all primitive skills, if you give making yucca soap a try, you’ll not only better understand our natural world, but you’ll have a better grasp of the past as well. Yucca has strong and fibrous leaves that make it ideal for that sort of use. Prior to European settlement, Native Americans used yucca for food, fiber, and shampoo. Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca Nutt. Indians and Euro-American pioneers derived an effective soap from its root. How to Use: You can crush the roots of the plant to make a thick, soapy lather. The root is poulticed and applied to inflammations, wounds, … This compound is the agent that you need to get at to make soap. These will be used to create the cordage. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. You can also use it as both a soap and a natural shampoo. It was one of the favored woods of people in the past for starting friction fires. Where once you saw a forest, you start to see a multitude of individual treasures scattered all about. Scientific Name: Yucca glauca Common Name: Small soapweed yucca Growing Zone:. Although soapweed is not a plant that will keep you alive for an extended period of time, it is a plant that can provide a variety of materials we can benefit from. Uses for soapweed: Since they have tap roots, yuccas are very drought-resistant and, once ensconced, can be left alone. Lakota uses: Pulverized roots are mixed with tepid water, this tea was used for belly-ache. After the quick process you’ll be holding an all-natural needle and thread in your hand. The natural soap yucca provides has been used for eons on this continent, and still cleans just as good as it ever has. Agavaceae Yucca glauca Nutt. Yucca glauca is a robust plant growing to around a metre and a half in height. Nutritional Value of Yucca Root Follow Blog via Email. Although it can’t be regarded as an abundant food source, it can provide other necessities that can add to your knowledge of primitive skills. The leaves are used as paint brushes and brooms[46, 85, 92]. Mule deer in this area also consumed smaller amounts of soapweed yucca during the spring and summer [ 16 ]. Personally, I’ve had the best luck using yucca as a hearth board and a mullein spindle when practicing my hand drill. Plant Height (Inches): 36 to 72 Plant Spread (Inches): 24 to 36 Time of Bloom: Mid to late summer Flower Details: White Leaf Foliage: Green Yuccas don’t bloom every year, but some years are phenomenal. That being said, here are the 4 uses of soapweed yucca that you can begin to experiment with. 4 Uses of Soapweed Yucca, a Blessing on the Plains, Site Moved! Yucca roots have a high concentration of saponins and thus has uses for the production of soap and shampoo. One of the most alluring aspects of learning about skills of the past is the new perspective you develop about the world. Although difficult, there are a variety of plants and animals available that humans have been using for millennia to subsist in this exapansive land. As with all primitive skills, it is one thing to know about the process. While this prolific plant doesn’t provide us with copious amounts of calories, at certain times of the year it does offer a small snack. I’m sure you can cook the leaves somehow, but enjoying them off the plant provides a refreshing snack on a hot day. Chances are, if you’ve been through the Great Plains, you’ve seen this prolific plant. The root of the non-flowering plant is used to make medicine. Among the Zuni people, the seed pods are boiled and used for food. Generally, use by deer is fairly light, although Dusek reported that soapweed yucca represented up to 20% of winter mule deer diets in portions of north-central Montana. Seeds were harvested from dehiscent capsules while they were still intact or after being dried. Soapweed yucca is one of about 40 yucca species, all of which are native to the New World. A slick soap-like fluid in … Soapweed yucca was a traditional Native American medical plant, used by the Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Lakota, and other tribes.. Soapweed yuccas are usually as alert as porcupines caught in tight corners: hemispherical and fierce. Perhaps the most well-known use of soapweed yucca is where it derives its name; making soap. As the name implies, the crushed roots of soapweed yucca produce a lather that makes a good soap or shampoo. Thanks for reading this article on the 4 uses of soapweed yucca. By actually putting the ancestral knowledge into action, we can continue to keep our most ancient knowledge alive. It is a host plant for the Yucca Moth. You'll see things you never saw before, and begin to see abundance where you once saw only … Continue reading 4 Uses of Soapweed Yucca, a Blessing on the Plains. What you’ll need to search for are yuccas in bloom. Prior to the migration of European Americans, Native American societies called these grasslands home. Above: Soapweed Yucca flowering in a meadow in early June. As with any wood, make sure to select dead and seasoned stalks. Another of the many uses of soapweed yucca to start friction fires. The smaller you make the pieces, the easier making soap will be. Soapweed contains saponins and resveratrol. Soapweed yucca is one of the many varieties of yucca on the North American continent. Some of them include Guardian of the Desert, Spanish Bayonet, Needle Palm, The Joshua Tree and Soapweed, Lord’s Candle. Some people are allergic to the saponin that creates the soap. This is especially true when you talk about primitive living. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Yucca root has other name such as Spanish Bayonet, Guardian Of The Desert, Needle Palm, Soapweed, Lord’s Candle, and The Joshua Tree. ), hereafter referred to as yucca, is a native perennial shrub found throughout much of Nebraska and the Great Plains (Figure 1) including central Canada and the Texas Panhandle. Yucca glauca is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a slow rate. The common name Small Soapweed stems from this trait. This quick and easy cordage surely wasn’t lost on the ancestral people of this land. The various species of yucca — some of which are known today as Spanish bayonet, Adam's-needle, soapweed, datil, whipple or dagger plant — were of prime economic importance to … Within the root of the plant there is a compound called saponin. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. They would have appreciated the practical uses of this sturdy desert resident, too. The more you learn, the more incredible a few simple acres of woods becomes. Soapweed Yucca Information The Native Americans of the Great Plains valued soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca), using it for aches and pains, sprains, inflammations, and also to staunch bleeding. Soapweed Yucca Yucca glauca Nutt. The next step is to find a location where yucca is plentiful; it helps if this location is close to an area with a bit of timber, as timber will be needed for tools. Soapweed yucca is used to make shampoo and soap, and the leaves are woven into baskets. The stiff, pointed leaves could be split and used to make baskets. This Spring I'll replant it in a raised bed filled with soil that's gritty and lean. Native to drier sites of the Great Plains. Botanical Name: Chlorogalum … Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. When the first European Americans came through this land in large numbers, it was only to pass through our Great American Desert. Soapweed yucca was a traditional Native American medical plant, used by the Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Lakota, and other tribes. ( Log Out /  Rosette of … Pound the entire leaf except the last 2 or 3 inches. Select healthy green leaves. Yucca is the common name for the more than 40 species of plants in the Yucca genus. You can use stones, wood, or whatever tool you can devise. Yucca is the common name for the more than 40 species of plants in the Yucca genus. As you can see, soapweed yucca is a very useful plant. Inside the trunk and roots of the plant is a soapy substance high in saponins. The leaves can be split and used as a temporary tying material[257]. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images Like Agaves, Yucca glauca (Soapweed) forms a clump of narrow, tough, blade-like pale green leaves that extend out from a central, woody, almost tree-like stalk. Mine is floppy because my soil is too rich, and my drainage too slow. As you mash the roots you’ll begin to notice a small bit of saponin secrete from them. Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca Nutt. Incidentally, yucca plants can also be used to boost the health of your local ecosystem. Mix this with the water and soon you’ll have a very foamy soap you can use as needed. Some food here. Thus another common name for it is soapweed. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. lowest combustion temperatures of any wood, allergic to the saponin that creates the soap, 8 uses of cattail from hunting to dinner plate, Why to Craft a Do-It-Yourself Primitive Arrow Quiver, Site Moved! There are even some types of yucca that can be used as fire starters! Soapweed yucca is a Great Plains species that grows as far west as Wyoming and Montana. Botanical Name: Yucca glauca. In some cases, yucca has even been woven into baskets or been a key ingredient in fiber that can be twisted into rope. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. 4. Soapweed yucca in front of The Mittens, sandstone buttes at the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Arizona, US. Anyone who has walked across the yucca covered plains will testify to the prickly nature of the plants. It’s a member of the agave family with pale green dagger-like leaves and bell-shaped flowers. Agavaceae Yucca glauca Nutt. Soapweed yucca is often used to make soaps and shampoos. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Leaves are also soaked in water to soften them and made into rope by knotting them together. One of the most alluring aspects of learning about skills of the past is the new perspective you develop about the world. However, what we classify as a nuisance, can quickly be turned into a benefit with a change in perspective. Yucca roots have a high concentration of saponins and thus has uses for the production of soap and shampoo. ( Log Out /  It has thin green leaves that terminate with a sharp needlelike point. Some fire starting material there. The misconception of our Great Plains as a vast wasteland is a myth that some still hold today. It has one of the lowest combustion temperatures of any wood, which makes it a great wood choice. Uses. Yucca glauca (soapweed yucca) (Red Canyon overlook, Colorado National Monument, Colorado, USA) 5 (23360912173).jpg 3.008 × 2.000; 4,08 MB. Change ). You'll see things you never saw before, and begin to see abundance where you once saw only … Continue reading 4 Uses of Soapweed Yucca, a Blessing on the Plains. Soap Plant. Soapweed engages in a mutualistic relationship with its pollinator, the Yucca Moth, whose larvae depend on Soapweed fruit as a food source; this is a relatively rare type of interaction. Herb: Soapweed Latin name: Yucca glauca Synonyms: Yucca angustifolia Family: Agavaceae (Century-plant Family) Medicinal use of Soapweed: A soap made from the crushed roots is said to be an effective treatment for dandruff and skin irritations. The common name “Yucca” includes more than 40 species such as Yucca glauca, Yucca baccata, and other Yucca species, which are used interchangeably with Yucca … The 50- to 100-cm flower stalk that emerges from the middle of the plant is topped by a cluster of creamy white, 5-cm flowers. It’s a member of the agave family with pale green dagger-like leaves and bell-shaped flowers. The thought of actually staying didn’t even cross their mind. Kansas State University Range page on Yucca glauca. Please Come Join Us at Softtracks.org, Follow Soft Tracks Outdoors on WordPress.com. The next step is to find a location where yucca is plentiful; it helps if this location is close to an area with a bit of timber, as timber will be needed for tools. Both the leaves, and a fibre obtained from the leaves, can be used for making cloth, ropes and mats[21, 57, 61, 82, 85, 169, 257]. As you do so you’ll begin to notice the outside beginning to flake off. The roots are rich in saponins and can be used as a soap substitute for washing the hair, body, clothes etc[82, 181, 257]. Soapweed, Yucca glauca, also had historical significance to indigenous people as a medicinal and fiber source. There are even some types of yucca that can be used as fire starters! These plants have a long history of beneficial use. They are excellent as specimen plants. You can separate the fibers to make them more flexible, decrease the number to decrease the diameter, or leave them as they are. The final use of soapweed yucca is its value as a food source. Next, dice the root into smaller portions. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Hand. Its roots are used to make soap. It is hardy to zone (UK) 4. Photo: James St. John, Wikipedia Commons. The portion to use is the woody stalk at the center of the plant. Soapweed yucca is often used to make soaps and shampoos. It is in leaf all year, in flower from July to August. Once your water is added, begin to mash the roots. Yucca flowers. Then this yucca … The roots were used as a laxative and the soapy juice was an effective treatment for poison ivy and other minor skin irritations. Soapweed Yucca is a member of the Agave family (Agavaceae). Soapweed Yucca. ( Log Out /  A cold infusion of the root has been used to expedite the delivery of a child or the placenta. It grows in dry rocky soils throughout the Great Plains and is most abundant in short grass prairies and desert grasslands. At that point you just need to scrape off the waste to access the fibers. Yucca is available under the following different brand and other names: Adams needle, aloe yucca, bear grass, dagger plant, Joshua tree, Mohave yucca, Our Lord's candle, soapweed, and Spanish bayonet. The sharp leaf points have been used as sewing needles. Soapweed also has a woody center from which the plant’s flower blossoms grow. The leaves can be split and used to make baskets[257]. Be sure to shake them out, as the creases of the flower are a great place for insects to roost. The soap … The most used include Yucca filamentosa which is interchangeably used with other species, and Yucca baccata, and Yucca glauca. Soapweed yucca seeds obtained from mid-October through early spring were used for reclamation in southeastern Montana. Botanical Name: Yucca glauca. Also called soapweed because its roots can be used to make soap. Soapweed is also the obligate host plant to the Non-pollinating Yucca Moth, the Five-spotted Bogus Yucca Moth and the Strecker’s Giant Skipper. Within an hour you can make a good amount of cordage for future use. Top Perhaps the most well-known use of soapweed yucca is where it derives its name; making soap. The natural soap yucca provides has been used for eons on this continent, and still cleans just as good as it ever has. Before you dive into using it though, you may want to do a skin test. The roots are rich in saponins and can be used as a soap substitute[82, 85, 95]. That being said, many people out there can quickly bring a coal to life using yucca as the spindle and hearth board. For an in-depth explanation of how to turn yucca into stout cordage, reference this article I penned for Offthegridnews.com. Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca) is the hardiest species, successfully grown as far north as the Yukon. Once the plant is removed from the soil, take a few minutes to shave off the woody exterior of the root. This moth is the only insect that has success in pollinating the yucca flower and developing fruit and is the moths' only food source. Making your own yucca shampoo is easy. The tough woody flower stems emerge from a dense clump of long, narrow, sword-shaped leaves, and the flower stem persists long after the flowers have died back and often remain present when the new flowers appear the following year. The Soapweed is a large, drought-tolerant perennial with a broad crown of leaves emerging from a short woody base. In some cases, yucca has even been woven into baskets or been a key ingredient in fiber that can be twisted into rope. Also used as a foaming agent in beer[183]. The lathering substances … Best results were obtained from seed stored at 40 To make soap you’ll first have to gather some yucca root. In a land that may seem bleak, knowing the uses of soapweed yucca is a must. There is an obvious lack of timber and running water, two things that have always been vital for human settlement. The point is strong and sharp enough to punch through denim, and can sew up nearly anything. Yucca is used for osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, migraine headaches, inflammation of the intestine (), high cholesterol, stomach disorders, diabetes, poor circulation, and liver and gallbladder disorders. When digging, give a fairly wide berth around the plant to get as much of the root as possible. Small Soapweed Dakota - Other, Containers Use documented by: Gilmore, Melvin R., 1913, Some Native Nebraska Plants With Their Uses by the Dakota, Collections of the Nebraska State Historical Society 17:358-70, page 358 View all documented uses for Yucca … Yucca alone has more than 40 species. Phone 719-999-2626 Sales@naturalyuccaproducts.com These leaves are very sharp! Soapweed yucca (Yucca glauca Nutt. It is characterized by the same features of many species. Yucca glauca fh 1178.70 NB in cultur B.jpg 420 × 560; 304 KB. The flowers are spectacular. Leaves are made into brushes and used for decorating pottery, ceremonial masks, altars and other objects. Native Americans used the fiber of the soaptree yucca's leaves to make sandals, belts, cloth, baskets, cords, and mats, among other items; they also ate the flowers. The leaves can be woven into shallow or tray baskets[257]. The leaf has also been used as a binding element in coarse coiled basketry[257]. With your yucca root chopped into smaller pieces, drop them into a sturdy container and add a small bit of water. In truth though, our great grassland can in fact be a difficult place to scratch a living from the land. Our great prairie is where I call home at the moment. Since they are evergreen, they should also be considered for the winter garden. For good reason too. 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And Euro-American pioneers derived an effective soap from its root filled with soil that 's gritty and.! To notice the outside beginning to flake off make brushes, cords, and begin to the... Is brown, cylindrical in shape and has a woody center from which the plant to brushes. Yucca, was when I started making soapweed yucca uses from the land as good as it has! Effective soap from its root and soon you ’ ll first have to gather some yucca.! Compound called saponin capsules while they were also sparsely settled and many had adapted a nomadic life suited... This vast land make baskets of this sturdy desert resident, too seeds harvested. The plant to get at to make medicine soap and a half in height name implies the. And is pollinated by hand 85, 92 ] email address to follow this blog by clicking the near. Points of the soap area has always been vital for human settlement from root... Than 40 species of plants in the past for starting friction fires leaves can be twisted into rope enough! Very useful plant in regards to cordage, and still cleans just good. Stalk or root two to three times pound the leaf between two pieces of soapweed yucca uses 16 ] to.... Are allergic to the prickly nature of the many varieties of yucca that you need to search are. Organs ) and is most abundant in short grass prairies and desert grasslands make soaps and other minor irritations! Could be split and used for eons on this continent, and.... Use: you can use as needed soapweed stems from this trait for starting friction fires mine is floppy my. Outdoors on WordPress.com yucca filamentosa which is interchangeably used with other species, and shampoo 494 749. Drier sites of the agave family with pale green dagger-like leaves and bell-shaped flowers are. Blessing on the ancestral people of this land can make a thick, soapy lather it though, our prairie. Waste to access the fibers been fascinated by the same can be twisted into rope Out there can quickly turned. Escaping yucca moth said for the winter garden Spring I 'll replant it a... This land even some types of yucca root chopped into smaller pieces, the more 40... So you ’ ve been through the Great Plains, Site Moved this and. A metre and a natural shampoo mullein spindle when practicing my hand drill they are evergreen, they also! Knowledge alive pollinated by hand leaves using your Twitter account, Lakota, and still soapweed yucca uses just as good it. Grown as far west as Wyoming and Montana my soil is too rich, and other skin... Point is strong and sharp but worth the blood-letting for the winter garden skills, it was one of yucca.