What plant with banana-like fruit could you find in the desert? Learn more about the Banana Yucca.
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones.
6a (−10 °F to −5 °F)
6b (−5 °F to 0 °F)
7a (0 °F to 5 °F)
7b (5 °F to 10 °F)
8a (10 °F to 15 °F)
8b (15 °F to 20 °F)
9a (20 °F to 25 °F)
9b (25 °F to 30 °F)
10a (30 °F to 35 °F)
10b (35 °F to 40 °F)
11a (40 °F to 45 °F)
11b (45 °F to 50 °F)
- Extinct in Wild (EW)
- Critically Endangered (CR)
- Endangered (EN)
- Vulnerable (VU)
- Near Threatened (NT)
- Least Concern (LC)
- Not Evaluated (NE)
Desert bananas
The Banana Yucca (yuck-ka) is called such due to its large fruits which can be four to nine inches long. These fruits were a staple food for many Native American tribes, who consumed them raw, cooked or dried for winter use. In fact, Native Americans consumed most of this plant; young leaves were cooked as flavoring in soups, the flowers were eaten as a sugary treat and flower stems were cooked as a vegetable.
- Leaves were used in making baskets and ropes.
- Soap can be made from stems and leaves of this plant.
