Plant Name:  Yucca, Banana

Botanical Name:  Yucca baccata

Note:  This plant was added to the garden when it was first the Southwestern Edible Garden. This plant is only mentioned briefly in our Cahuillan sources but it was known and was given a name.

Native Name:  Humwichawa

Height/Physical Description:  3 feet in height and 5 feet wide.  Sharp tipped blue-green leaves with fibers along the edges.  Produces large banana-shaped fruit in Spring to Summer when the plant becomes more mature.

Use:  Food. Large fleshy edible fruit.

Harvesting:  When the plant matures and forms large fruit, it can be harvested in Spring to Summer.  When ripe, brown spots of sugar fermentation will be noted on the fruit.

Preparation:  Peel away skin and slice in half to eat fresh or fruit can be roasted.