Richard Moore Outdoor Report: Land of the Yucca

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — While much of the country is still shivering in winter’s icy grip, spring is in full swing in the land of the yucca.

Heralding spring in the Rio Grande Valley, yuccas or pitas as they are known in Spanish, are in peak bloom throughout wildlands.

While some are just starting to thrust their bloom spikes skyward, others are fully unfurling their creamy white flowers to the morning sun.

As they begin opening their petals, various hues of rich purple and reddish shades often appear, before mature bloom glows a radiant white.

Yuccas flower in southernmost Texas from early January through March. In some years the bloom is sporadic, while in others they flower in magnificent unison, and a view from the air reveals their extensive beauty.

Despite less than average rainfall, this year is producing an abundance of beautiful blooms. For hardy native yuccas weather extremes are the norm as not even snowfall in December 2017 curtailed annual flowering.

Yuccas are not only beautiful to behold, but they are also one of the most useful plants in the region and helped sustain indigenous people and early Spanish settlers.

The flowers are edible, the stalk and fruit are edible, the leaves can be used for making rope and the roots are an excellent source for soap. In the early 1900s, a Chicago company produced a popular soap using yucca root.

Yuccas also provide food and shelter for wildlife, and this chachalaca is savoring a flavorful snack of pita petals.

Many birds, such as the Aplomado falcon, build their nest within the protective spines of the Spanish dagger.

One of the best places to see blooming yuccas is Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge east of Rio Hondo, but just remember plants and animals at Laguna are protected for all to enjoy, so don’t try and sample a pita from the refuge.