Plant of the Month – June
0-
For a dramatic statement in your landscape that takes very little water or maintenance, Desert Spoon offers a reliable option…either as a single accent or as a stunning mass planting.
Desert Spoon
- Dasylirion wheeleri
- Plant Form: Cactus/Succulent
- Water Use: Low
- Mature Size: 4-6 ft. tall & wide
- Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Late Spring (May) – Summer (June – August)
- Native to: Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, northern Mexico
- Hardiness: Cold hardy to 0°F
Desert Spoon is beloved as an architectural workhorse in desert landscapes. This yucca-like plant has hundreds of long, narrow leaves edged with small, sharp teeth (so plant away from walkways and patios), each leaf starting from a spoon-shaped base, hence its name. Rosettes of younger plants are stemless, but older plants may develop a trunk up to 6 feet tall. Desert Spoon has both male and female plants, with flowering stalks up to 12 feet tall producing thousands of either male or female flowers. Both attract crowds of eager pollinators, including native bees, flies, wasps, and butterflies. Desert Spoons don’t flower every year, but happily, they do not die after flowering like many of their relatives. Dead leaves can be removed for a look reminiscent of pineapple, or left for a more natural-looking trunk. Dramatic as an accent in rock gardens or in large containers. Stunning if mass planted in larger landscapes.
Comments