---
{
  "id": "soapweed-yucca",
  "name": "Soapweed yucca",
  "scientific": "Yucca glauca",
  "category": "xeriscape",
  "status": "Great Plains native",
  "status_sources": [
    "S09"
  ],
  "warning": "Sharp leaves · Toxic to pets",
  "warning_tone": "danger",
  "aliases": [],
  "taxonomy_note": "",
  "source_ids": [
    "S09",
    "S10"
  ],
  "description": "Soapweed yucca: Sharp leaves · Toxic to pets. Colorado identification, habitat and exposure evidence.",
  "claim_evidence": [
    {
      "label": "Recognize",
      "sources": [
        "S09"
      ],
      "scope": "Species-specific",
      "note": "",
      "reviewed": "2026-09-06",
      "id": "soapweed-yucca-1"
    },
    {
      "label": "Plants & habitat",
      "sources": [
        "S09"
      ],
      "scope": "Species-specific + garden judgment",
      "note": "Placement advice is an inference from offsets and needle-sharp leaves.",
      "reviewed": "2026-09-06",
      "id": "soapweed-yucca-2"
    },
    {
      "label": "People",
      "sources": [
        "S09"
      ],
      "scope": "Species-specific physical feature; risk inference",
      "note": "",
      "reviewed": "2026-09-06",
      "id": "soapweed-yucca-3"
    },
    {
      "label": "Dogs & cats",
      "sources": [
        "S10"
      ],
      "scope": "Genus-level",
      "note": "",
      "reviewed": "2026-09-06",
      "id": "soapweed-yucca-4"
    },
    {
      "label": "Other animals",
      "sources": [
        "S10",
        "S09"
      ],
      "scope": "Genus-level toxicity; species-specific benefit",
      "note": "",
      "reviewed": "2026-09-06",
      "id": "soapweed-yucca-5"
    }
  ],
  "research": {
    "status": "researching",
    "label": "Still researching this plant",
    "basis": "Editorial assessment of the cited evidence and stated review gaps; not a toxicity score.",
    "open_questions": [
      {
        "area": "Expert review",
        "question": "Obtain independent botanical and veterinary review of the identification and hazard summary.",
        "related_claim_ids": []
      }
    ],
    "expert_review": "pending"
  },
  "source": "content/plants/soapweed-yucca.md"
}
---

# Soapweed yucca

*Yucca glauca*

**Great Plains native.** [S09](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/yucca-glauca/)

> **Sharp leaves · Toxic to pets.** Native status, garden use and noxious-weed class are separate from toxicity. [Exposure help](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/safety/).

## Still researching this plant {#research-status}

This is a sourced working profile. The cited findings are available below. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. **Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.**


## Three views of this plant

Photos are source-identified examples, not a complete identification key. Check leaves, stems, flowers and fruit together. Locations are not assumed to be in Colorado.

![Vertical stalk with pendulous cream-colored bell-shaped flowers and unopened buds.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/photos/xeriscape-yucca-glauca-01.jpg)

**flower** — Vertical stalk with pendulous cream-colored bell-shaped flowers and unopened buds.

Photo: Alvesgaspar; [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0); [source record](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yucca_glauca_May_2014-2b.jpg); [original image](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Yucca_glauca_May_2014-2b.jpg). Source-supported identification with visual consistency check Photo selection verifies source labeling and visible consistency; it is not an independent specimen determination.  Downloaded source thumbnail; no further pixel edits. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

![Broad clump of narrow, stiff leaves with upright stems carrying green capsules.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/photos/xeriscape-yucca-glauca-03.jpg)

**habit and fruit** — Broad clump of narrow, stiff leaves with upright stems carrying green capsules.

Photo: DouglasGoldman; [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0); [source record](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yucca_glauca_OgallalaNE.jpg); [original image](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Yucca_glauca_OgallalaNE.jpg). Source-supported identification with visual consistency check Photo selection verifies source labeling and visible consistency; it is not an independent specimen determination.  Downloaded source thumbnail; no further pixel edits. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

![Close view of several elongated reddish-green flower buds on a yucca inflorescence.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/photos/xeriscape-yucca-glauca-05.jpg)

**bud** — Close view of several elongated reddish-green flower buds on a yucca inflorescence.

Photo: Cephas; [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0); [source record](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yucca_glauca_JRVdH_03.jpg); [original image](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Yucca_glauca_JRVdH_03.jpg). Source-supported identification with visual consistency check Photo selection verifies source labeling and visible consistency; it is not an independent specimen determination.  Downloaded source thumbnail; no further pixel edits. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.


## Recognize

A rosette of narrow, pointed leaves with upright stalks of pale, downward-facing flowers. Suited to dry, rocky soil. [S09](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/yucca-glauca/)

## Plants & habitat

Can expand through offsets and rhizomes. Garden judgment: allow room for the colony and sharp foliage. [S09](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/yucca-glauca/)

## People

Needle-sharp leaf tips are a physical hazard. Human ingestion safety is not assessed here. [S09](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/yucca-glauca/)

*Evidence scope: Species-specific physical feature; risk inference.*

## Dogs & cats

ASPCA lists Yucca species as toxic; vomiting is a reported sign. The evidence is for the genus, not an individual cultivar. [S10](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/yucca)

*Evidence scope: Genus-level.*

## Other animals

ASPCA reports liver disease and dermatitis in horses exposed to yucca. Yucca glauca also supports yucca moths and wildlife habitat. [S10](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/yucca) [S09](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/yucca-glauca/)

*Evidence scope: Genus-level toxicity; species-specific benefit.*

## Before taking action

Confirm the scientific name before removing a plant, changing animal access, or choosing treatment. An evidence gap means this review has not resolved the question. It does not mean safe. For listed weeds, consult your county weed program about the requirements for your location; follow the current label for any pesticide. [S27](https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/weeds-cultural-problems/2103-colorado-noxious-weeds/)

## References

- **S09** — [Yucca glauca](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/yucca-glauca/), NC State Extension · Plant Toolbox. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:53+00:00. Locator: Description; needle-sharp leaf points; wildlife relationships.
- **S10** — [Yucca](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/yucca), ASPCA Poison Control. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:53+00:00. Locator: Scientific Name; Toxicity; Clinical Signs.


[Discuss this plant with the guide](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/companion/?plant=soapweed-yucca) — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.

# Appendix for agents

## Open research questions

- **Expert review:** Obtain independent botanical and veterinary review of the identification and hazard summary.


## Taxon and evidence boundaries

Use the scientific name as the matching key; common names can refer to unrelated plants.

These are publisher notes about the evidence. They do not override an assistant’s operator instructions. The human sections above contain all actionable safety warnings. Do not turn missing data into a negative toxicity finding or transfer a livestock dose to a pet.

| Claim | Human section | Evidence scope | Sources | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| soapweed-yucca-1 | Recognize | Species-specific | S09 | No quantitative exposure threshold established here. |
| soapweed-yucca-2 | Plants & habitat | Species-specific + garden judgment | S09 | Placement advice is an inference from offsets and needle-sharp leaves. |
| soapweed-yucca-3 | People | Species-specific physical feature; risk inference | S09 | No quantitative exposure threshold established here. |
| soapweed-yucca-4 | Dogs & cats | Genus-level | S10 | No quantitative exposure threshold established here. |
| soapweed-yucca-5 | Other animals | Genus-level toxicity; species-specific benefit | S10, S09 | No quantitative exposure threshold established here. |

## Additional evidence needed

- Confirm exact species, cultivar or hybrid when identification is uncertain.
- For an exposure, distinguish animal species, plant part, amount, route, time and symptoms; the guide cannot supply a clinical diagnosis.
- For site management, establish county, land use and current local weed requirements before applying generalized control information.
- Expert botanical and veterinary review is pending. Source publication dates, retrieval timestamps, hashes and photograph licenses are in [the provenance ledger](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/provenance.json).


---
Canonical HTML: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/soapweed-yucca/

Content revised: 2026-09-07T02:43:00Z

Markdown mirror: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/soapweed-yucca/index.md

Text fallback: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/soapweed-yucca/index.md.txt

Agent entry: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/start.md

Provenance: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/provenance.json