Many states had adopted state flowers before New Mexico even became a state in 1912. Another fifteen years passed before New Mexico elected a state flower. School children spent months considering the state flowers. In the end, they favored the yucca. The yucca was officially adopted on March 14, 1927.
New Mexico’s state flower is sometimes called Spanish bayonet for its long sharp, leaves. Another nickname is beargrass. Native Americans used yucca roots for making soap and hair tonic. That’s why it’s sometimes called soapweed. Yucca leaves grow to lengths up to about two feet. They look like giant pincushions sitting on the ground.
