Adam’s-needle yucca, Yucca filamentosa, is the most widespread species especially in the eastern half of the country. Most other species of yucca are restricted to southern coastal areas in the southeast or the desert southwest. Both the common name and scientific name suggest the use of the plant for thread. The common name I grew up with was century plant, which is not surprising considering that it is in the same family as agave although they are not hardy north of zone 8. An encounter with one of the taller species turns many people against any yucca due to the extremely hard and sharp leaf tips, but in comparison the basal leaves of Adam’s-needle do not seem deadly. They are very easy to propagate since about all that is needed is a root cutting, but it may take several years for them to reach maturity if it is rather small. I have transplanted a few around the yard because it was no longer wanted in the original position. The first panic was when the one moved turned brown and look dead, but I’m soon surprised that it lived, meanwhile another sprouts from broken or overlooked roots in the original location. The large root stores the energy needed to flower and the larger it becomes the more frequent the flowering. The plant seems to resist most herbicides due to the proportionally large roots similar to green briers. These roots also allow them to survive any drought as well as years of mowing or cultivation that may even increase the numbers as the roots are divided.