[4] This plant is a succulent shrub[3] with a trunk up to a meter long growing erect or reclining.

Mature specimens may wear a sheath of dead leaves from previous seasons around the trunk.

The plants reproduce by seed and vegetatively by sprouting from buds located at the leaf bases.

Other plant species in the habitat may include prickly pear, yucca, nolina, Pinchot juniper, wavyleaf oak, skeleton goldeye, curlyleaf muhly, grama grasses, threeawns, and slim tridens.

Similar to "tequila", this liquor product is historically only referred to or labeled as "sotol", if it originates within certain regions of Mexico --- a tradition officially recognized by the Mexican government when it granted the spirit a denomination of origin (DO) which the US begin honoring under the North America Free Trade Agreement.