It is native to a mountainous region in the Sierra Madre Occidental in the Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua.

It has also been reported from Arizona[3] It grows on steep, rocky slopes in pine-oak forests.

[4] Yucca madrensis has indehiscent fruits and serrate leaves.

This suggests relationships with Y. rigida Trel.

It differs from both those species by several characters such as narrowness of the leaves, glabrous inflorescence, and short stature.