Blue Nolina Nolina nelsonii
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- no-LEE-na nel-SON-ee-eye
- Description
-
Blue Nolina is a large blue-green succulent tree-like shrub in the asparagus family. It is slow-growing and very drought and heat tolerant. Plant it in the full fun in well-drained soil. Once it flowers the main plant dies back and a new plant forms at the base of the rosette. Its coarse texture adds a lot of drama to a low-water-use landscape.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
![JC Raulston Arboretum](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/partner_logos/ncstate-brick-2x2-red.png)
![JC Raulston Arboretum](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/partner_logos/ncstate-brick-2x2-red.png)
![Leaves](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/DSC_0769_yUSZNktvfp3w.jpg)
![JC Raulston Arboretum](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/partner_logos/ncstate-brick-2x2-red.png)
![In Winter](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/DSC_1999_LdJWZoFAekSm.jpg)
![JC Raulston Arboretum](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/partner_logos/ncstate-brick-2x2-red.png)
![Form under Sun](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Nolina_nelsonii_fm_1_kTxBK4TpxpgE.jpg)
![Form](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/Nolina_nelsonii_fm_1_piDRWXKF6C7X.jpg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/DSC_0769_thumb_VEnvsBJ83S5N.jpg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/DSC_1999_thumb_1DnNkOPgbfFz.jpg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Nolina_nelsonii_fm_1_BxuFvCh5Mf3v.jpg)
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/eit-planttoolbox-prod/media/images/thumb_sm/Nolina_nelsonii_fm_1_hY8m8u4AwKos.jpg)
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Nolina
- Species:
- nelsonii
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico
- 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
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Texture:
- Coarse
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Small white slightly fragrant flowers appear in mass in spring on a 4' tall stalk.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- 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 1" wide by 3' long strappy with finely toothed margins
-
-
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