Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts at higher elevations from
southeastern California, to western Texas and south to northern
Mexico. Dry, rocky desert slopes. Yellow flowers composed of 6
petals, bloom June through August. Flowers grow in clusters and
face upward at the end of horizontal branches, appearing only
near the top of the stalk This unique native plant has a tall,
thin stalk from 10 to 14 feet high that grows from a thick basal
rosette of gray-green leaves. The leaves are 10 to 18 inches
long with long, sharp, terminal spines and shorter spines along
the edges. The stalk can be up to 4 inches in diameter. Members
of the Amaryllis Family, century plants take many years to
flower, although not a century. The Century Plant provided
Native Americans with a source of soap, food, fiber, medicine
and weapons. Agavi americana, can grow up to 40 feet high with
much longer leaves and larger stalk. This American Century Plant
is sometimes grown in southern California as an ornamental. It
is used commercially in Me