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Hesperaloe parviflora

Phonetic Spelling
hes-per-AL-oh par-vi-FLO-ra
Description

Red Yucca is a member of the century plant family and is native to the deserts of Texas and northeastern Mexico. It thrives in hot, dry desert conditions and is easily grown in well-drained sand, loam, caliche, and limestone soils in full sun. Superior soil drainage is essential to growing this plant. It is heat and drought tolerant and is a favorite of hummingbirds with its red, tubular flowers.

In cooler winter climates, flowering occurs during the summer into fall but in warm winter climates, flowering will occur nearly year-round. The arching narrow green leaves are evergreen and attractive with fine, curling threads on the margins

Use this plant in rock gardens and desert gardens. It can also be planted in large containers.

Problems: Fungal root rots in damp, heavy soils. Potential for scale and aphids. Deer will browse the plant.

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Crevice Garden at the Guilford County Extension Center
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Brakelights Red'
    Bright red flowers
  • 'Desert Son'
    Yellow flowers
  • 'Perpa'
'Brakelights Red', 'Desert Son', 'Perpa'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#succulent#red flowers#salt tolerant#winter interest#erosion control#well-drained soil#spreading#herbaceous perennial#long bloom time#pollinator plant#clumping#cactus#urban conditions tolerant#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#tropical feel#Guilford Crevice Garden#perennial
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Brakelights Red'
    Bright red flowers
  • 'Desert Son'
    Yellow flowers
  • 'Perpa'
'Brakelights Red', 'Desert Son', 'Perpa'
Tags:
#hummingbird friendly#heat tolerant#drought tolerant#succulent#red flowers#salt tolerant#winter interest#erosion control#well-drained soil#spreading#herbaceous perennial#long bloom time#pollinator plant#clumping#cactus#urban conditions tolerant#dry soils tolerant#butterfly friendly#tropical feel#Guilford Crevice Garden#perennial
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Hesperaloe
    Species:
    parviflora
    Family:
    Asparagaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Texas, Mexico and Coahuila
    Distribution:
    Central Texas south to Coahuila in northern Mexico
    Wildlife Value:
    Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Succulent
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Arching
    Clumping
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Very Dry
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Woody capsule
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Pink
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long Bloom Season
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Red, pink or coral tubular flowers grow on 4-6 foot red stalks. The centers are yellow.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Leathery
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    The blue-green evergreen leaves grow in a basal clump and are 2-3 feet long and 1 inch wide. They become purple or reddish-brown in cold winter climates. Leaves have numerous white filament hairs on margins
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Red flower stalks
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Container
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Mass Planting
    Specimen
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Hummingbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Erosion
    Heat
    Pollution
    Salt
    Urban Conditions