Alphabetical Plant Listing

Dasylirion wheeleri (Desert Spoon)

Blue Sotol, Sotol Wheeler, Common Desert Spoon, Saw Yucca, Desert Spoon, Spoon Flower, Common Sotol


Dasylirion wheeleri (Desert Spoon) is a very ornamental evergreen succulent boasting a perfectly symmetrical rosette packed with hundreds of long, narrow, silvery blue-green leaves tipped with white fibers. The leaves can reach 5 ft. in length (150 cm) and are adorned with golden spines along their margins. The rosette sits on a stout short trunk. In summer, it is topped with a dramatic flowering stalk, up to 15 ft. (450 cm), bearing thousands of tiny flowers. Bees and hummingbirds relish the flowers. Dasylirion wheeleri is dioecious (separate male and female plants). Male flowers are more white colored and female flowers are tinged purple-pink. The flowers are followed by small oval capsules containing a single seed. Slow-growing, carefree, and very drought tolerant, Desert Spoon makes a great specimen plant for xeriscape gardens and blends well in Mediterranean or arid gardens. Position where the sun backlights the striking form and yellow spines.

  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
  • Adds architectural interest to the garden and slowly grows up to 3-5 ft. tall (90-150 cm) and 4-5 ft. wide (120-150 cm).
  • Easily grown in well-drained soils in full sun. Once planted in the ground, this plant does not need additional water, though the odd deep watering during summer would encourage more rapid growth. Thrive best in full sun, but tolerates some shade and humidity. Drought tolerant.
  • Great for beds and borders, city gardens, coastal gardens, informal gardens, or Mediterranean gardens. Placement in the garden should be carefully considered so as not to catch unwary passers-by with thorns.
  • Virtually pest and disease free, but watch out for scale insects. Deer and rabbit resistant
  • Propagate from seeds.
  • Native to Mexico (Chihuahua and Sonora), southwestern United States (Texas to Arizona)

Not sure which Dasylirion to pick?
Compare All Dasylirion

Buy Dasylirion wheeleri (Desert Spoon)

Requirements

Hardiness 8 – 11
Climate Zones 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Cactus - Succulents
Plant Family Dasylirion
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 3' – 5' (90cm – 150cm)
Spread 4' – 5' (120cm – 150cm)
Spacing 60" (150cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Native Plants United States, Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Bees, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden

Buy Plants

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Dasylirion


Cultivar413 (Flickr), (c) Gerhard Bock, SucculentsandMore.com

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 8 – 11
Climate Zones 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Plant Type Cactus - Succulents
Plant Family Dasylirion
Exposure Full Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)
Summer (Early,Mid,Late)
Fall
Winter
Height 3' – 5' (90cm – 150cm)
Spread 4' – 5' (120cm – 150cm)
Spacing 60" (150cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Native Plants United States, Southwest, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
Tolerance Deer, Drought, Rabbit, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Bees, Hummingbirds
Garden Uses Beds and Borders
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Dasylirion

Plant Calculator

How many Dasylirion wheeleri (Desert Spoon) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Dasylirion wheeleri (Desert Spoon)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.