Dasylirion wheeleri
wheeler sotol
Overview
Dasylirion wheeleri, Wheeler sotol or desert spoon, is an evergreen rosette-forming plant in the asparagus family, building a dense sphere of narrow leaves 3-5 feet (0.9-1.5 m) across atop a short trunk. The blue-grey to silvery leaves are 2-3 feet (60-90 cm) long, under an inch (2 cm) wide, and lined with small, hooked, yellowish teeth along the margins, ending in a frayed, brushy tip. Each leaf widens into a spoon-shaped base where it joins the trunk, the source of the desert-spoon name. Mature plants are male or female, and in late spring to summer a flowering stalk 9-15 feet (2.7-4.6 m) tall rises from the centre, lined with thousands of small cream to straw flowers. Native to the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts of Arizona, New Mexico, west Texas, and northern Mexico, D. wheeleri grows on rocky slopes, grassland, and desert scrub between about 3,000 and 6,000 feet (900-1,800 m). It withstands heat, drought, and cold to around 10 F (-12 C). One limitation is the sharp marginal teeth, which can cut skin near the rosette. It is slow-growing, and the hearts have long been roasted to make the distilled spirit sotol.
Native Range
Dasylirion wheeleri is native to the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts of the southwestern United States, including Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas, and northern Mexico. It grows on rocky slopes, desert grassland, and scrub at moderate elevations from about 3,000 to 6,000 feet (900-1,800 m).Suggested Uses
Dasylirion wheeleri is grown as an architectural specimen rosette in desert, gravel, and water-thrifty gardens, and in large containers. It suits xeriscapes, rock gardens, and median or courtyard plantings in hot, dry regions. Its leaf rosettes and tall bloom stalks are used in Southwestern landscape design.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height3' - 5'
Width/Spread3' - 5'
Bloom Information
A tall flowering stalk rises in late spring through summer, roughly May to August, on mature plants. Male and female flowers grow on separate plants, each stalk densely lined with small cream to straw flowers that draw bees and other insects. Dry winged seeds ripen on female stalks into autumn.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
cream to strawFoliage Description
blue-grey to silveryGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Dasylirion wheeleri grows in full sun on sharply drained sandy, gravelly, or rocky soils across a pH of about 6.0 to 8.0. It is a heat- and drought-adapted plant for zones 7 to 11 that survives on rainfall once established and needs only occasional deep watering. Sharp drainage is essential, since wet or heavy soils rot the base. It withstands cold to around 10 F (-12 C), more than most desert rosette plants. Reflected heat and lean, rocky soil suit it. Growth is slow, and overhead irrigation or rich soil can cause rot.Pruning
D. wheeleri needs little pruning beyond removing dead lower leaves and spent flower stalks. The dead leaf bases are sometimes left as a skirt or trimmed for a clean trunk. The sharp leaf teeth make trimming near the rosette awkward.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 5 gallons