This plant has been documented for many uses among the Río Mayo peoples in Chihuahua, Sonora, and Sinaloa in Mexico. The most common use comes from its flowers which are used to make tortillas. The flowers are typically washed to rid them of the bitter taste. The stems of the plant are also used to make mescal. The plant is poisonous to fish so that the plant is useful in catching fish. The Río Mayo people would crush up the leaves or pulverize them, rubbing the meat of the leaves on the fishing tool. The fish would become paralyzed and more accessible to the hunters. From there they could save time and energy by catching more than one at a time. While it's not typically an edible plant, it does attract hummingbirds. It's primary use in modern times is a a very attractive landscape ornamental/accent plant (1).