Manfreda is a deciduous perennial, sometimes classified as a subshrub (USDA PLANTS), in the Agave family. Indeed, it was originally described as an Agave by Linnaeus. In North Carolina it is fairly rare, found in a dozen counties in the Piedmont, two in the Mountains, and one in the Coastal Plain. The closely related Yuccas are most similar, but have tougher evergreen leaves with fine teeth or shredding into filaments and have woody stems. Compare especially with Weak-leaf Yucca (Yucca flaccida). The fleshy leaves of Manfreda have smooth edges. Manfreda is most commonly found in xeric areas over basic rock, but also found over granite.

Sometimes also called Rattlesnake-master, but this leads to confusion with Eryngium yuccifolium, which is more commonly called Rattlesnake-master.

Granville Co., NC 5/8/2012.

Flowering spikes appear in summer. The flowers are not very showy.

Durham, NC 7/7/2012.

Almost all the leaves are in the basal rosette.

Durham, NC 7/7/2012.