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    • Photo of Dasylirion wheeleri flower, form by plant lust

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    Dasylirion wheeleri

    Also Known As

    • Dasylirion wheeleri [select form]
    • Desert Spoon
    • Sotol

    Plant type

    cactus / succulent

    size

    • H: 3'-15'
    • W: 4'-5'

    planting zones

    • 7a-11

    More Options

    Dasylirion wheeleri plant details

    Dasylirion wheeleri is an evergreen cactus / succulent with blue foliage. In summer tan flowers emerge. Attracts bees and butterflies making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - mostly sun and occasional - low water. Drought tolerant once established. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in average, gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

    CHARACTERISTICS OF Dasylirion wheeleri

    Plant type: cactus / succulent
    Plant family: asparagaceae
    Foliage: evergreen blue
    Mature size: 4 FT - 5 FT - wide, 3 FT - 15 FT - tall
    Flowers: tan blooms in summer
    Uses: rosette-forming, serrated leaves, spiky

    GROWING CONDITIONS for Dasylirion wheeleri

    USDA Zones: 7a - 11
    Sun exposure: sun - mostly sun
    Watering frequency: occasional - low
    Resistant to: deer and rabbit, heat and verticillium wilt
    Soil needs: average, gritty, lean, rocky and well-drained

    Nursery contributed plant descriptions

    Narrow 1"x 3' sword-like leaves clumped on a 3' trunk have been used for everything from baskets and thatch to paper; a 9-15' spike of flowers is followed by a seed head used for alcohol (?sotol?) and cattle feed. S/D/GD

    By: Forestfarm

    Desert spoon has long, narrow, serrated, bluish green leaves that radiate in all directions forming a dramatic succulent sphere. Though slow-growing it can form a trunk with time. The tall flowering stem towers over mature plants with white flowers on male plants and purple-pink flowers on female plants. A drink called sotol is made from the desert spoon by the native desert peoples.

    By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

    Full Sun. Outdoor. Insignificant White Flowers on 6-15' stalk.

    By: Moon - Sun Cactus & Koi Gardens

    The best known and one of the more spectacular of the genus, these trunk-forming denizens of southeast Arizona to southern New Mexico and south into Sonora can grow as tall as 8' with 4-5' rosettes of very pretty gray-blue, adorned with small golden teeth and threadlike filifers at the leaf ends. Beautiful when back lit. Not fussy about water or soil though would rather not sit in winter wet. Great container specimens. This high elevation collection from southeastern Arizona should be frost hardy into the 0 to 10 °F range, USDA zone 7, especially in bright light with good air circulation and very well-drained soil. Said to be deer resistant. [select form]

    By: Cistus Nursery

    Gardening facts about Dasylirion wheeleri plant

    How to Grow Dasylirion wheeleri

    • Sun Exposure

      • sun - mostly sun

    • Water Needs

      • occasional - drought tolerant

    • Soil Needs

      • adaptable
      • average
      • lean
      • well-drained
      • rocky
      • gritty

    • Special Situation

      • heat tolerant
      • verticillium wilt resistant

    Features

    • Foliage Color

      • blue

    • Flower Color

      • tan

    • Wildlife

      • bees
      • butterflies
      • deer resistant
      • rabbit resistant

    • Flower Season

      • summer

    • Foliage Season

      • evergreen

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