Adam's Needle

Description:

A medicinal plant native to eastern North America.[1] Usually trunkless, Yucca filamentosa is a multisuckering plant with heads of 30 inch (75 cm) long, filamentous, blue-green, strappy leaves. The plant is fully hardy. Yucca filamentosa is readily identified from other Yucca species by white threads (filaments) on the leaf margins (see image).[2] Flower stems up to 10 ft (3 m) tall bear masses of pendulous cream flowers in early summer. Yuccas are useful garden perennials because they bloom at night (nyctinasty). The creamy-white flowers fill with sap and lift petals to the darkening sky, then release a sweet odor (which reminds some as smelling of a toilet soap) that attracts the very small pollinator, the yucca moth. You can see this specimen or a nearby plant blooming here: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/444...

Habitat:

In the wild, Y. filamentosa is native to the southeastern United States, as far west as Louisiana and as far north as Virginia. However, it is widely cultivated and can be found naturalized outside its native range.[3] This plant is native to sandy areas of southeastern United States. Habitats include vacant lots, roadsides, areas along railroads, open upland woodlands, cemetery prairies, and sand prairies.

Notes:

Growing on a wooded drive near an old church and cemetery This is a native wildflower to Georgia