Mexican Lily Beschorneria yuccoides
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- bes-kor-NAIR-ee-uh yuk-KOY-deez
- Description
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Mexican Lily is a clump-forming, stemless, herbaceous, semi-woody yucca in the agave family with gray-green stiff leathery leaves and attractive flowers. It is native to northern Mexico and works well in containers or planted in small groups along a shrub border. Its architectural shape makes it a lovely specimen plant with soft leaves and it is right at home in a drought-tolerant rock garden. The genus honors Friedrich Wilhelm Christian Beschorner, a German amateur botanist. The epithet, yuccoides, derives from the botanical name of the genus Yucca, and oides is Greek, meaning "likeness".
Mexican Lily does not tolerate frosts and is best grown in warm, sheltered south- or west-facing sites in full sun, where temperatures do not fall below 23 °F. In North Carolina, it can be grown under glass or indoors. The plant requires little water. This species is native to Mexico where it often is found on rocky slopes.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems
No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Beschorneria
- Species:
- yuccoides
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northern Mexico
- Distribution:
- Argentina, New Zealand
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Succulent
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Mounding
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruits are elongated to almost spherical, 1.2 to 1.6 inches long and 1/2 to 1 inch wide
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The inflorescence reaches a height of 39 to 71 inches, with a maximum height of 130 inches. The stem and the bract are red. The flowers are green, 1 1/2 to 2 inches long.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Denticulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Rosette of 20 to 35 long, linear, gray-green sword-like leaves that are widened at their base. About16 to 24 inches long and 1.3 inches wide and finely denticulate.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
