General: Utah Yucca (Yucca elata var. utahensis) is a locally common (not found everywhere, but where found it can be quite common) species of the northeastern Mojave Desert in the Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) life zone. Utah Yuccas occur in sandy areas where the sand is derived from sandstone. Around Las Vegas, look for this species in northern portions of Valley of Fire State Park and out in the wild and rugged Gold Butte Region.

Family: Agave (Agavaceae).

Other names: Yucca utahensis, Utah soaptree.

Plant Form: Upright shrub with a trunk.

Height: Trunks to 3 ft, flowering stalk adds about 5 ft.

Trunk: To about 3 ft, sometimes absent.

Leaves: Very long daggers with a sharp tip; dull gray-green color.

Flowers: Blooms in the spring. Inflorescence upright panicle on stalk 3 to 5-ft high. Flowers large, white.

Seeds:

Habitat: Sandy areas where the sand is derived from sandstone

Elevation:

Comments: Utah Yuccas tend to grow in clumps in sandy areas where the sand is derived from the weathering of sandstone outcrops.