Hesperaloe parviflora, also known as hummingbird yucca, false yucca, and samandoque, is an evergreen perennial succulent similar to yucca. It is native to the Chihuahuan desert in western Texas and northeastern Mexico, and it thrives in deserts, prairies, rocky slopes, and mesquite groves. The coral red-flowering plants have been a staple in southwestern landscapes for years, but the yellow-flowering selection is less common.
Although closely related to yuccas, it belongs to the century plant family rather than the yucca family. The narrow, arched, sword-like, blue-green leaves grow in clumps up to 6' wide with 2-3' long leaves and often take on a purple or reddish-bronze color in cold winter climates. There are distinctive thread-like hairs on the margins of each leaf.
The tubular yellow flowers rise well above the foliage clump on yellow flower stalks 4-6' tall. In cold winter climates, flowers bloom from early to mid-summer with frequent reblooms into fall, while in warm winter climates, they bloom earlier and continue blooming throughout the year—making it an excellent plant for hummingbirds.
This plant grows well in dry, sandy, sharply-drained soils in full sun, thriving in hot desert conditions and surprisingly hardy in USDA Zone 5. The key to growing this plant well is to have excellent soil drainage. It is extremely resistant to heat and drought and can self-seed in the landscape or be propagated by clump division. Additionally, it is tolerant of urban conditions.
