Its tall yellow flower stalks dot dry rocky slopes and washes throughout the spring.

The panicle bears numerous yellow, funnel-shaped flowers 3–6 cm long.

There are two varieties:[citation needed] The desert agave is drought-tolerant but requires good drainage.

The desert dwelling Native Americans used fibers from the leaves to make cloth, bowstrings, and rope.

[3] Natives of southern California commonly harvested the "heads" using a specialized digging stick and roasted the leaves and heart alike.