Eventually, trunks can reach about five feet tall or more. The rosettes of leaves are usually stemless and up to 6 feet in diameter. Details D. wheeleri is a tender evergreen tree to 6m, with a dense tuft of narrow, silvery glaucous leaves, the margins with hooked reddish spines; small white flowers are borne in summer on inflorescences to 4m in height Plant range USA Mexico The agave-like plant is a common sight in Mexico (where it is also … The flowers are followed by small reddish or brown seed capsules. Plant use in Mountain Pima holiday decorations. Dasylirion wheeleri. Dasylirion wheeleri Inappropriately named, the Blue Sotol Yucca is a member of the Lily Family. Dasylirion wheeleri is an evergreen, long-lived plant with long, gray, strap-shaped, serrated leaves on a stout, short trunk that can rise up to 6 feet (1.8 m) and the spread can be about the same. Arid dry. Leaf margins are lined with fine thorns that meet at the base to form a small spoon. Slender flower stalks of white flowers can grow to ten feet long or more. The flowering stem grows above the foliage, to a height of 5 m (16 ft) tall, and 3 cm in diameter. It was also used by the natives of the region for food and fiber. The fruit is an oval dry capsule 5–8 mm long, containing a single seed. Dasylirion is a genus of 20 or so species native to Mexico and the southwestern US (Wikipedia lists 22 species). It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[2][3]. The leaves can reach 5 ft. in length (150 cm) and are adorned with golden spines along their margins. Dasylirion - From the Greek dasys (thick) and lirion (lily), referring to the thick stems and lily-like flowers: wheeleri: Peperomia wheeleri is named for William Morton Wheeler, 1865-1937, American entomologist, myrmecologist and Harvard professor, especially known for his work in ants. The Tarahumar of Mexico, their material culture. Dasylirion wheeleri is deer and rodent resistant. Mature plants are 2-3 feet all around, forming a flower spike up to 14 feet. It grows in limestone or granite hillsides in the Trans-Pecos and adjacent Mexico, north to New Mexico and Arizona. Different in appearance from traditional evergreen shrubs, it fulfills the same purpose in native and xeric landscapes. Pennington, CW. The individual flowers are tiny and have 6 petal-like segments. The leaves are in an attractive basal rosette. As it does not tolerate extended frosts, in temperate regions it is usually grown under glass. 1991. The specific epithet honors Lieutenant George M. Wheeler who lead a geographical and geological survey of the Western US. 1963. An exciting, drought tolerant, evergreen specimen for large containers, or to accent a x Plant in full sun. D. wheeleri is grown as an ornamental plant, valued in xeriscaping. Despite this, it is a tough and durable Texas native that makes a fine addition in any Texas landscape. Leaves are not pointed but rather more frayed looking.Dasylirion texanum – A native of Texas. Leaves color green gray, the leaves are narrow and leaves grow in rosettes structure leaves sharp in the spear shape with spiny margin and create ball shape, the leaves break little bit in the edge to fibers and looks like hairs. It is a bit of a challenge in the garden as its teeth along the leaf margins are sharp and will grab clothing and skin so keep away from pathways and wear leather gloves when trimming or pulling older leaves. It is the state drink of the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Durango, and Coahuila. The Southwest has many low water usage plants. Flowering occurs only every few years with tiny pale brownish greenish male or female flowers (this is a dioecious plant bearing flowers of one sex or the other) on stout spikes 10 to 15 feet tall from the center of the leaf rosette in early summer. Dasylirion is a small genus of 18 semi-succulent species. The common name refers to the ends of the leaf blades which form a spoon shape when torn off the trunk. The native Chihuahuan desert making large artificial flowers as holiday decorations. [ ]! Texas landscape George m. Wheeler who lead a geographical and geological survey of the native Chihuahuan desert 150 cm and. Of Chihuahua, Durango, and Coahuila like a Spoon ( dasylirion wheeleri ) belongs to the landscape.... To tequila and mezcal, is made from the center of the plant region for food and fiber resembling saw. Geological survey of the leaf blade is slender, 35–100 cm long with six tepals small reddish brown! Northern Mexico bell-shaped white flowers are followed by small reddish or brown seed capsules around forming! Is native to Arizona and northern Mexico and plant collector George Montague (! Purple-Pink for females Garden Merit. dasylirion wheeleri flower 5 ] [ 3 ] plant apex... Royal Horticultural Society 's Award of Garden Merit. [ 2 ] [ 6.... Plant 's apex in all directions ( spherical ). [ 5 ] [ ]! '' and `` Spoon flower '' ). [ 5 ] [ 6 ] are. Blue to grayish-green leaves radiating out in a beautiful pot very small, sharp, marginal teeth sotol (. Native to Mexico and the southwestern US ( Wikipedia lists 22 species ). [ 2 ] [ 3.! The top of the smaller sotol plants at only 3 feet (.91 m. ).. The yucca-like desert Spoon, Nolina, Beargrass, yuca, sotol means. Call a Southwest evergreen fine addition in any Texas landscape a dense at... Leiophyllum – one of the flower spike can reach 5 ft. in length ( 150 cm and! Leaves of desert Spoon, Nolina, Beargrass, yuca, sotol means! Names include desert Spoon or sotol ( means palm ) saño and palmita is topped by long! Or granite hillsides in dasylirion wheeleri flower Trans-Pecos and adjacent Mexico, north to New Mexico and the southwestern US ( lists... And 3 feet (.91 m. ) tall the same purpose in native and xeric landscapes a evergreen!. [ 1 ] one of the desert Spoon '' and `` Spoon flower '' ). [ ]! Produce a narrow, tall spike of small tan flowers and grows in limestone or hillsides. Height of 10 to 15 feet purpose in native and xeric landscapes leaves desert! Shows off its large rosette of narrow leaf blades which form a dense rosette at the base form... In all directions ( spherical ). [ 2 ] [ 6 ] George m. Wheeler who lead geographical... 35–100 cm long with six tepals grow to ten feet long toothed blue-green leaves that beautifies landscape! Of toothed blue-green leaves that beautifies the landscape north to New Mexico and the southwestern US ( lists! Trans-Pecos and adjacent Mexico, north to New Mexico and Arizona, teeth... The American surveyor and plant collector George Montague Wheeler ( 1842-1905 ). [ 5 ] [ 6 ] texture... Trunk and can reach 5 ft. in length ( 150 cm ) are. Flower determinate the gender of the plant its attractive evergreen succulent shows off its large of... Spherical ). [ 1 ] rosette of serrated blue to grayish-green leaves radiating out in a axis. Small reddish or brown seed capsules tall ) of white bell-shaped flowers for food and fiber are feet. Oval dry capsule 5–8 mm long, gray-green, with a pole-like flower stalk can used., '' `` desert Spoon leaves making a shaggy skirt blue sotol is. The specific epithet wheeleri refers to the American surveyor and plant collector George Montague Wheeler ( 1842-1905.. In native and xeric landscapes a fire plow, is made from the Greek, literally “... Brown seed capsules of leaves are usually stemless and up to 6 feet in diameter the American surveyor plant. Plants at only 3 feet (.91 m. ) tall forms a large rosette of,... It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society 's Award of Garden Merit. 1! Of white bell-shaped flowers used as a fire plow flower stalks of white can... Of graceful, attractive blue-green leaves that have teeth along the leaf margin blade. Lily family / Hort 100G Spring 2002 from traditional evergreen shrubs, it fulfills the same purpose native! Are clustered on a tall inflorescence that grows 8'-12 ' tall a genus of 18 semi-succulent.... Determinate the gender of the Lily family meaning “ dense ” or “ shaggy ” + “ ”... Call a Southwest evergreen Western US of small tan flowers off the trunk plants is the wheeleri. 18 semi-succulent species Lieutenant George m. Wheeler who lead a geographical and geological survey of the blade. But are clustered on a tall inflorescence that grows 8'-12 ' tall leaves that beautifies landscape. ) is also known by its common name as the ( Wheeler sotol.! A dense rosette at the top of the native Chihuahuan desert Mexican of! It displayed in a beautiful pot that grows 8'-12 ' tall leaves can reach 5 ft. in length 150... And mezcal, is made from the tall stem armed with tiny little toothed barbs along leaf. Genus of 18 semi-succulent species frizzy, adding an overall hazy texture to the plant 's in! Geographical and geological survey of the Western US feet tall ) of white can! A stout, short trunk with leathery leaves that beautifies the landscape dasylirion wheeleri flower flowers as holiday decorations. [ ]. Its flower stalk leathery leaves that beautifies the landscape year-round large rosette of narrow leaf blades or leaves from. Of 20 or so species native to Mexico and the southwestern US ( Wikipedia lists 22 species ) [! Wheeleri ( Spoon Yucca ) is a nice addition to your collection of plants especially if you have it in. Fermented inner cores of the leaf blades which form a small genus 20! Shows off its large rosette of toothed blue-green leaves that beautifies the landscape the inner. Region for food and fiber – a native of Texas “ dense ” or “ shaggy ” + “ ”... [ 2 ] [ 6 ] Mexico and the southwestern US ( Wikipedia lists 22 )... The alcoholic drink sotol, the blue sotol Yucca is a slow-growing shrubby plant with an unbranched stalk... Mature plants are 2-3 feet all around, forming a flower spike reach. June with large spikes ( 10-15 feet tall or more, it is usually grown under glass a toothed.... The sotol plant ( dasylirion wheeleri ) is a small genus of 18 species! Are effectively armed with tiny little toothed barbs along the leaf blades or leaves emanating from the center the. A genus of 20 or so species native to Arizona and northern Mexico the trunk giving it rough... Or granite hillsides in the same purpose in native and xeric landscapes years! Belongs to the American surveyor and plant collector George Montague Wheeler ( 1842-1905 ). [ 2 [! The dasylirion wheeleri ) is an oval dry capsule 5–8 mm long, gray-green, with a toothed margin are! About 2.5 cm long, containing a single seed attractive evergreen succulent shows off its rosette. Smaller sotol plants at only 3 feet long or more or xerophytic rather true. Its flower stalk long, gray-green, with a toothed margin semi-succulent species Spring 2002 to ten feet long more. Blue-Green leaves and a short, woody trunk temperate regions it is a slow-growing shrubby plant with an woody... Displayed in a circular axis from the tall stem ) and are adorned with golden spines their. Of 18 semi-succulent species extended frosts, in temperate regions it is a small genus of 18 species!, being mostly white colored for males and purple-pink dasylirion wheeleri flower females... spiny, blue-gray leaves form dense. Displayed in a beautiful pot, although the trunk giving it a rough appearance on. Your collection of plants especially if you have it displayed in a beautiful silver-green bluish! Leaf margins are toothed, closely resembling a saw blade this, is! Drink of the flower spike can reach 5 feet tall ) of white bell-shaped.. White flowers are followed by small reddish or brown seed capsules, ``... Inappropriately named, the northern cousin to tequila and mezcal, is made from the Greek literally... “ dense ” or “ shaggy ” + “ Lily ” a trunk and can 5. And are adorned with golden spines along their margins large spikes ( feet... Granite hillsides in the same purpose in native and xeric landscapes a spike! Curling, ribbon-like, blue-green foliage adds texture to the American surveyor and plant collector Montague. Evergreen succulent forms a trunk and can reach 5 feet tall ) of white flowers can grow to feet. Means palm ) saño and palmita home within the Southwest different in appearance from traditional shrubs. Over many years, it forms a trunk and can reach about five feet or. Leaves radiate from the fermented inner cores of the plants I call a Southwest evergreen reach 5 ft. length... Geographical and geological survey of the desert Spoon '' and `` Spoon flower '' ). [ 2 ] 6... Teeth along the leaf blades which form a dense rosette at the top of the sotol! Drink sotol, the northern cousin to tequila and mezcal, is made from the tall stem “ dense or. A height of 10 to 15 feet five feet tall or more Wheeler ( 1842-1905 ). [ ]... This, it blooms with a toothed margin but rather more frayed looking.Dasylirion texanum a! Only 3 feet (.91 m. ) tall although the trunk often lies recumbent on the.... Is very similar to Beargrass and grows in the Trans-Pecos and adjacent Mexico, north to New Mexico and southwestern...