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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

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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

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.

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

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]

Dasylirion wheeleri plant details

CHARACTERISTICS OF Dasylirion wheeleri

GROWING CONDITIONS for Dasylirion wheeleri

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

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Gardening facts about Dasylirion wheeleri plant

How to Grow Dasylirion wheeleri

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