Yucca baccata (Datil Yucca) Zion Museum Collection ZION 6032.

With its rigid spine-tipped leaves, this plant is often mistaken for a century plant – a plant that blooms only once in its lifetime. Although both plants are members of the agave family, Datil Yucca blooms each year. When in bloom, this plant sports white waxy flowers on a large central stalk. The fruit that follows the bloom was eaten ripe, or dried and stored by the Native American inhabitants of this area. They also used the strong fibers of the leaves to make ropes and sandals. The bulbous part of the roots of the Datil Yucca was also eaten and the chemicals in the roots—called Saponins—were used to make soap.