Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
scent—strongest when it's wet—that is similar to the spice sage. It has tiny, gray-
green leaves and sprouts small, white flowers in the fall. Three varieties grow at
Bryce Canyon:
big,black,
and
fringed;
while
big
and
old man
grow at Zion.
Big Sagebrush
YUCCA
Not a cactus as many think, but a shrub, yuccas grow in dry, rocky areas
of both parks. One of the prettiest plants in the Southwest—absolutely stunning
when it's in bloom—the yucca was extremely important to early American Indians,
who made baskets and sandals from its strong leaves, ate its fruits and flowers, and
turned its roots into a shampoo. The plant has long, extremely tough green leaves
with sharp spines on their tips that can be quite painful to the touch. In the spring
or early summer, the yucca produces a tall stalk of large, white flowers. You'll find
the
narrow-leafyucca
at Bryce Canyon, and the
Datil
(broad-leaf) and
Utah
vari-
eties at Zion.
