Hesperaloe funifera

Also known as Giant Hesperaloe, New Mexico False Yucca, Samandoce

Erect, bold, and striking growth habits characterize this excellent, slow-growing evergreen plant. It produces stiff, narrow, green leaves that form clumps of upright growth up to six feet tall. The plant's leaf margins have white, stringy fibers that peel off as it matures. During summer, a greenish-white flower stalk shoots from the center of the plant. Its flowers are nocturnal and are pollinated by bats and hummingbirds. After blooming, its blossoms produce woody capsules with flat, black seeds. For its bold foliage, you can use it in an attractive pot along an open wall or alongside a large pool or pond. It can also be used as a streetscape shrub or in mass plantings in medians. A native of the Chihuahuan Desert in northeastern Mexico and southern Texas, it grows up to 7,500 feet in elevation.

The plant is hardy down to about five degrees Fahrenheit. Once established, it can survive without supplemental irrigation for a long period of time. Giant hesperaloe prefers well-draining and somewhat rocky soils. It thrives in full sun and enjoys plenty of reflected heat. This very low-maintenance accent plant is relatively easy to grow. Newly planted shrubs should be protected with chicken wire, as rabbits love to eat the foliage.

BONAP MAP

Height: 6’'

Spread: 6’'

Bloom: March-May
Light: Full Sun
Water: Low
Zone: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Origin: Southwestern U.S.
Deer Resistant: Yes