Nolina nelsonii
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- no-LEE-na nel-SON-ee-eye
- Description
-
Blue Nolina is a large blue-green succulent tree-like flowering shrub in the asparagus family and native to the deserts of Mexico. It can reach a height of up to 20 feet with a tufted, 4 to 5 foot canopy, blueish green leaves, white flowers that appear in spring, and large fruit capsules. Once it flowers, the main trunk dies back and multiple lateral trunks form at the base. Its coarse texture and upright, majestic form add drama to a low-water-use landscape.
It is slow-growing and very drought and heat tolerant. Plant it in full sun in well-drained soil. Note that Blue Nolina is very slow to establish. Deep and infrequent water is needed during summer, but no water other than rainfall is needed during winter. Remove dead or dying foliage.
It is a desert plant, used to dry and hot environments; however, it is also relatively cold hardy to 10 degrees F. The foliage canopy at and near the top of the shrub will become sparse with age. Similar to other species of Nolina, Blue Nolina can inflict major deep cuts if mishandled.
Diseses, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
Fungal root rot is common in cold damp soils.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
Download Image
Download Image
Download Image
Download Image
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Nolina
- Species:
- nelsonii
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northern and northeastern Mexico
- Distribution:
- Southern Arizona
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 11 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Succulent
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit capsules contain light-brown, spherical to oblong seeds. 3 lobed and somewhat inflated.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Small, white, slightly fragrant flowers appear in mass in spring on a large 6- to 10-foot tall panicled stalk.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Silvery blue-green leaves, 1 inch wide by 3 feet long, strappy with finely toothed margins. Leaves are borne in dense rosettes with up to several hundred stiff linear (narrow) leaves. Medium green juvenile foliage matures into powder blue adult foliage.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- Security
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
