Hummingbird Yucca Hesperaloe parviflora
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- hes-per-AL-oh par-vi-FLO-ra
- Description
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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'
- 'Brakelights Red', 'Desert Son', 'Perpa'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Brakelights Red'
Bright red flowers - 'Desert Son'
Yellow flowers - 'Perpa'
- 'Brakelights Red'
- 'Brakelights Red', 'Desert Son', 'Perpa'
- Tags:
-
-
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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Succulent
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Clumping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Woody capsule
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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.
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Leaves:
- 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
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Red flower stalks
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-
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
