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Mexican Lily Beschorneria yuccoides

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
bes-kor-NAIR-ee-uh yuk-KOY-deez
Description

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:
Tags:
#drought tolerant#specimen#frost tender#herbaceous perennial#leathery leaves#indoor#gray-green leaves
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#drought tolerant#specimen#frost tender#herbaceous perennial#leathery leaves#indoor#gray-green leaves
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Succulent
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Mounding
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Patio
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Small groups
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought