One of the most popular succulents to be used in desert landscaping is the Yucca known as Adam’s Needle, or Yucca Filamentosa.
I have a lovely in my front yard that in about one week has raised a huge stalk in the center. These plants don’t require more than the usual desert rains and have small barbs on their fleshy leaves – if you rake across one it is a bit like a saw and it will break the skin. At some point the stalk unwinds and blooms appear.
This excerpt taken from http://www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/398/adams-needle/
The best of the yuccas for low maintenance, drought resistant landscaping. Develops a dense rosette of dark green leaves with a distinctive blue cast. Flowers in summer with grand spires of fragrant snow white bells. Suited to containers. Evergreen.
Here is a photo of my current one; the spire must be over 10 foot tall.