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Hesperaloe spp.

false yuccas

Asparagaceae

Texas and northern Mexico (Chihuahuan Desert region)

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Attracts Hummingbirds Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 5–11

Overview

Hesperaloe spp. is a small genus of about five to eight evergreen perennials in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), native to Texas and northern Mexico in and around the Chihuahuan Desert. The plants form dense clumps of long, narrow, arching leaves, 0.6-1.2 m (2-4 ft) long, that are tough and leathery with slender white fibres curling from the margins. Despite common names such as red yucca, they are neither true yuccas nor aloes but relatives of the agaves. From late spring into autumn slender, sparsely branched flower spikes rise well above the foliage, often 1.5-2.5 m (5-8 ft) tall, carrying tubular bell-shaped flowers in red, coral, pink, salmon, or yellow. The flowers are rich in nectar and are visited by hummingbirds. The genus is highly tolerant of heat, drought, and poor soil, and the red yucca (H. parviflora) is hardy well into cold-winter regions. Plants are slow to clump up and are intolerant of wet, heavy soils, which cause crown and root rot. Once established they need almost no care.

Native Range

Hesperaloe spp. is native to the south-western United States and northern and central Mexico, chiefly in Texas and the Chihuahuan Desert region. Species grow on dry, rocky slopes, grassland, and desert scrub.

Suggested Uses

Hesperaloe spp. species are planted in xeriscape, desert, and gravel gardens, in median strips and parking-lot islands, and as low-water accents in hot, sunny borders. The evergreen clumps and tall flower wands give vertical form in dry plantings, and the nectar-rich flowers draw hummingbirds. Plants suit large containers and rock gardens.

How to Identify

Look for a fountain-like clump of long, narrow, stiff, channelled leaves edged with curling white threads, evergreen and rising straight from the base. In bloom, tall wand-like spikes carry tubular, nodding flowers in red to coral or yellow over a long season. The fibrous leaf margins and tall, slender flower wands separate Hesperaloe spp. from true yuccas, which bear broader leaves and dense flower clusters.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2' - 8'

Width/Spread2' - 4'

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Flowering runs from late spring through summer and often into autumn, with spikes producing fresh buds for months. Hummingbirds work the tubular flowers throughout. Old spikes can be left for structure or cut once spent.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

red, coral, pink, salmon, or yellow

Foliage Description

blue-green to grey-green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

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

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 8.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Plants grow in full sun on sharply drained sandy, gravelly, or rocky soil at a pH of 6.0-8.0. Once established they tolerate intense heat, reflected light, wind, and prolonged drought, and need watering only during extended dry weather. Wet, heavy, or poorly drained soil causes crown and root rot, especially in winter. The red yucca is hardy to about USDA zone 5, while some species are more frost-tender. Plants are slow-growing and need little feeding.

Pruning

Spent flower spikes are cut to the base after bloom, or left standing for winter form. Tattered outer leaves are trimmed away to tidy the clump. No other pruning is needed, and the clumps are left undisturbed once established.