Hesperaloe

( hess - per - AL - oh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of flowering perennials (commonly called False Yucca) needs full sun or light shade and requires little to moderate amounts of water. The flowers will attract hummingbirds to your garden, and even when not in bloom, the foliage is pleasing. Branching flower stems produce many salmon-colored to pinkish flowers that are tube-shaped. Mature plants are drought-tolerant, but do look better with a soaking every few weeks during the warmer months of the year. Hesperaloe plants have great heat tolerance, as well. Use Hesperaloe around pool areas, in drought-tolerant landscaping, and in tropical beds to add bloom height and year-round foliage. Take care when planting these in your garden, as plant parts are mildly toxic to humans and pets if consumed.

Hesperaloe Species and Varietals

The genus Hesperaloe includes 8 species and is a member of the plant family Asparagaceae. The genus name is derived from the Greek word hesperos, meaning 'western' and aloe, the genus which these plants resemble at first glance. Hesperaloe grow well in USDA hardiness zones 5-11. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Hesperaloe funifera (Coahuilan Hesperaloe, Giant Hesperaloe, Mexican False Yucca, Samandoque, New Mexico False Yucca)
This species is native to Texas and Mexico and is cultivated as an ornamental around the world. It naturally grows on rocky slopes and open plains, and reaches up to over 8 feet tall when in bloom. Flowers are green or white, often tinged with some purple.

Hesperaloe parviflora (Red Yucca, Hummingbird Yucca, Redflower False Yucca, Samandoque, Coral Yucca)
This species is native to Texas and New Mexico, and forms a 3-4 foot tall clump of leaves from which a 5-foot tall flower stalk sprouts. Flowers are salmon-pink and bloom from late spring through the middle of summer. Great as cut flowers; heat tolerant. This species is great as a container plant. Variety 'Brakelight' is a compact grower, getting to 2 feet tall and wide with bright red flowers. There is also a yellow-flowering variety.

Caring for Hesperaloe

Take care when planting these in your garden, as plant parts are mildly toxic to humans and pets if consumed. Plant Hesperaloe, or False Yucca, in full sun exposure (somewhere that receives between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun each day). These easy-care plants prefer light sandy soil or heavier soil amended to improve drainage, and do especially well in loamy soils. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost and sand before installing these flowers. Hesperaloe plants prefer a soil pH of between 6.1 and 7.2, and for soil to dry out slightly between waterings. In cooler months, watering can be greatly lessened; overwatering in the wintertime is one of the main causes of root rot issues. After planting, mulch around the base to help retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth. Keep mulch away from the plant stems, as this can encourage an environment for root rot issues to take hold.

Pruning False Yucca includes cutting back spent flower stems to the base of the plant and trimming or otherwise removing dead or damaged foliage to maintain a neat appearance. If growing these plants in a cramped space, they will need to be divided every few years to avoid becoming over-crowded. For instructions on how to successfully divide these plants, see the propagation section below. Consider covering plants in the wintertime with frost cloth if the temperature will be dropping below freezing. When cared for properly, these plants can last for 10 years or more in the landscape before needing to be replaced.

Growing Hesperaloe in Containers
False Yucca plants are typically grown in the ground, but they can also be cultivated in pots, which allows for plants grown in cooler climates to be brought to a sheltered location over winter. Choose a container that is a few inches wider and deeper than the root ball, and fill with well-draining potting soil amended with compost and sand. Ensure that the container has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow the excess water to flow away. Mulch over the top of soil to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these plants are drought-tolerant, but will need more frequent irrigation than their in-ground counterparts. Every few years, check to see if roots are attempting to grow through the drainage holes. This is a good indicator that the plant should be divided. For instructions on how to successfully divide Hesperaloe plants, see the propagation section below.

Propagation

Hesperaloe can be propagated either by division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your False Yucca, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Hesperaloe by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 4-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Hesperaloe by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh well-draining soil, compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.

Hesperaloe seed pods form where flowers once bloomed, and will split open when seeds are mature.

Hesperaloe seeds are flat, thin, black and papery.

Problems and Pests

Hesperaloe, or False Yucca, is typically resistant to problems, though they can have issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape from time to time: