There are several other rosette-forming plants of the Southwest deserts that resemble agave and yucca. Most widespread is nolina (beargrass), which has leaves that are thinner, straighter, less rigid and more numerous. There are 14 US species. Dasylirion (sotol) is a similar plant, notable for a row of tiny teeth along each leaf; it produces tall flower stalks, similar to an agave. Other yucca-like species include hechtia texensis (Texas false agave).


Other related US species:

Dasylirion texanum, Texas sotol, west and central Texas
Nolina arenicola, Trans-Pecos beargrass, far west Texas (rare)
Nolina atopocarpa, Florida beargrass, Florida
Nolina brittoniana, Britton's beargrass, Florida
Nolina cismontana, peninsular beargrass, southwest California
Nolina erumpens, foothill beargrass, far west Texas
Nolina georgiana, Georgia beargrass, Georgia and South Carolina
Nolina greenei, woodland beargrass, northeast New Mexico, west Oklahoma, extreme southeast Colorado
Nolina interrata, Dehesa beargrass, extreme southwest California (rare)
Nolina lindheimeriana, devil's shoestring, south-central Texas
Nolina micrantha, chaparral beargrass, far west Texas, southeast New Mexico