Yucca consists of a genus of perennial trees and shrubs within the Asparagaceae family. Making them relatives to plants such as Agave and the Joshua Tree. This genus of plants can be found in a wide range of areas including the arid areas of the North and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The Yucca plant is characterized by their durable, sword-like leaves in a deep green and the tall, tower-like white flowers they produce. At times, Yucca was confused with Cassava, a shrub native to South America also known as Yuca or Arrowroot. Yucca has adapted to a range of environments from rocky deserts, coastal sands, and mountainous areas to grasslands, prairies, and semi-arid subtropical areas. This ability to adapt to a wide range of environments comes from the specialized adaptations the Yucca plant has developed. This includes a waxy, thick skin to the leaves which prevents water loss from evaporation as well as thick roots that store water. Some varieties of desert Yucca have adapted an oil coating that reduces water loss by trapping moisture on their leaves or pads. Some species will store water in their leaves while others will actually shed their leaves during drought in order to prevent as much water loss as possible. These dead leaves aid in shielding the plant from the sun when falling to gather at it's base. When wildfires occur, Yucca will actually grow faster afterwards. Even the shape of their leaves aids in channeling water to the roots of the plant. Even their pollination is specialized. They possess a mutually beneficial system with Yucca Moths. These moths will travel from flower to flower transferring the Yucca pollen while also laying an egg within the flowers. This allows the Yucca to be pollinated while the moth's egg can hatch and feed on some of the Yucca seeds while leaving enough within the flowers for the plant to continue to grow. This plant is popular as a decorative plant due to it's ability to tolerate a variety of environments and their dramatic looking appearance. Some species of Yucca are cultivated for their edible flowers, seeds, and fruits while the roots are harvested less for food and more for medicinal or cleansing uses.

Yucca, also known as Bear Grass or Adam's Needle, is associated with being masculine plant connected with fire, protection, purification, and transmutation. A cross of twisted Yucca fibers placed on the hearth is said to protect one's house from evil. In Native American cultures, particularly those of the South west, the Yucca was an important plant. It was used in a variety of ways such as using the fibers to create sandals and baskets, eating the fruits and roots, or medicinally. The roots of the eastern species of Yucca was used as treatments for sores and rashes. It was said that by leaping through a hoop of Yucca fibers, one could transform into their preferred animal. The Yucca plant, primarily the roots, is used in a wide range of treatments. Applied directly to the skin, it can be used for sores, bleeding, joint pain, and even baldness or dandruff. Medicine created from the Yucca can treat osteoarthritis, migraines, poor circulation, stomach disorders, high blood pressure, and more. The roots of Soaptree Yucca contain a high amount of saponins, the chemicals that produce a soap-like foam, and were used by Native Americans for shampoos before certain rituals. The tough leaves were also used to puncture meat by sharpening the tips and then knotted in a way that would form a loop in which to hang meat in smoke houses or for salt curing.