These yuccas are native to the southeastern United States, and are now found
as far north as MA and as far west as Texas. Cultivars of these yuccas are popular
with gardeners.
Identification: Like other yuccas, Adam's needle looks
sort of like an oversized tuft of grass. A group of evergreen straplike leaves, about 1″ (2.5 cm) in diameter,
erupt from a central point. Leaves are up to 3′ (91 cm) in length. Like several other yuccas,
Adam's needle has thin, wiry curls or filaments on the leaves (hence the species filamentosa).
The plant blooms by growing a
central spike up to 8′ (2.4 m) high, covered with drooping, cream-colored flowers about 2″ (5 cm)
in size. Plants die after producing these stunning blooming displays.
See the Yucca page for a comparison with other yuccas.