A yucca is a tough, distinctive plant with long, stiff, sword-shaped leaves that grow in a circular pattern from a central point. Native to hot, dry regions of North and Central America, yuccas thrive in deserts and other places where most plants would wither. Their sharp-pointed leaves can be dark green or have pale stripes, and they grow directly from the ground or atop thick, woody stems.

Yuccas are remarkably hardy plants that store water in their thick leaves and roots, allowing them to survive long periods without rain. In late spring or summer, many yucca species send up tall stalks covered with clusters of white, bell-shaped flowers. Some species’ flowers open at night and are pollinated by a specific type of moth in a fascinating partnership: the yucca moth pollinates the flowers while laying its eggs inside them, and the hatching caterpillars eat some (but not all) of the seeds.

People have used yuccas for thousands of years. Native Americans wove the tough leaf fibers into rope, baskets, and sandals, and ate the flowers and fruit of some species. Today, yuccas are popular in desert landscaping because they need little water and create dramatic, sculptural shapes in gardens.