Mojave yucca is a 1-few-branched shrub that is sometimes almost tree-like with a trunk or thick stem that may not be apparent when the plant is young, and growing 3' to 15' tall.  The leaves are narrow, linear, and spreading in all directions from the stem, and they are wide-based and have stiff, yellow-green blades 12" to 60" long and 1" to 1-1/2" wide.  They are also tipped with terminal spines and have coarse fibers along the margins, which Yucca whipplei lacks.  The cream-colored flowers appear in a long terminal cluster.  The individual flowers are large, pendent, and occasionally have a purplish tinge.  The fruit is an oblong capsule to 2" to 4" long with thick, obovoid seeds.  Mojave yucca is quite common on dry rocky slopes, mesas and flats to about 5000' on both deserts and extends to the coast in San Diego County.  It blooms from April to May.

Click here for Latin name derivations: 1) Yucca  2) schidigera.
Pronunciation: YUK-ka shi-DIJ-er-a.
Click here for Botanical Term Meanings.