Soaptree Yucca, Salt River Canyon

A pair of flowering soaptree yuccas (Yucca elata) greet the first rays of morning sunshine on the steep slopes of Salt River Canyon. The Salt River... more

by Douglas Taylor

Title

Soaptree Yucca, Salt River Canyon

Artist

Douglas Taylor

Medium

Photograph - Fine Art Digital Photogrpahy

Description

A pair of flowering soaptree yuccas (Yucca elata) greet the first rays of morning sunshine on the steep slopes of Salt River Canyon. The Salt River in Central Arizona cuts deep into the rock layers at the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau in what is billed as “Arizona’s Other Grand Canyon”. The Salt River Canyon is a wonderful desert landscape in its own right, with colorful cliffs, many side canyons draining the plateaus above along with the Salt River deep in its heart.

These two soaptree yuccas are at the peak of their bloom, with large white to cream colored flowers atop 12 to 15 foot tall stalks. Unlike their distant cousin, the agave species, mature yuccas bloom annually with sufficient moisture. This yucca can be found from northern Mexico through Arizona and into southern Utah to the north, and New Mexico and west Texas to the east. They are a succulent, but remember; all cacti are succulents, though not all succulents are cacti. They range across the arid landscape at elevations from 1,500 to 6,000 feet. Soaptree Yucca is also the New Mexico State Flower.

Uploaded

July 24th, 2023