Sacahuista Beargrass has numerous rigid, grass-like leaves growing from large, woody, basal stems. These coarse-bladed leaves, usually less than four ft. long, exhibit a yucca-like growth habit. White flowers are borne in dense, open clusters atop 3-5 ft. flowering stems. The plant lacks a conspicuous stem.

Despite its name, this is not an actual grass but a succulent member of the lily family. It has been utilized to construct baskets by Native Americans. The name Sacahuista is derived from two Aztec words meaning "thorn grass": zacatl (grass) and huitztli (thorn).