Tree Bear Grass, Nolina matapensis
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| Tree Bear Grass, Nolina matapensis. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. April 19, 2008 |
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| Tree Bear Grass, Nolina matapensis. Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. April 19, 2008 |
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| Tree Bear Grass Leaf Tips Nolina matapensis | Tree Bear Grass Leaf Margins Nolina matapensis |
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Tree Bear Grass Originally included within the Agavaceae family, all of the four genera Beaucarnea, Calibanus, Dasylirion, and Nolina are now into their own monocotyledonous family the Nolinaceae. In its native locations, Nolina matapensis is a tall, tree-like plant with a trunk which can reach 10 - 20 feet tall on an average. Some older plants have been found that develop a branching form with 3 or more branches and are over 20 feet tall. Of course, this takes many years as the trunks grow at a rate of about 3 inches per year. This lush-looking species comes with 3 - 5 foot long, one half inch wide, bright green leaves, with a bluish hue. The fluffy inflorescence is a branched panicle about 4 - 6 feet long, with small white flowers, in the summer. The seeds are inside a papery fruit. While the leaves of this accent plant are unarmed, its edges are razor sharp and can inflict cuts. Individual Tree Bear Grass plants grow slowly but they need 5 to 6 feet to spread out, so be careful not to plant them in tight spaces. Also they may realistically reach about 8 feet tall in urban landscapes.
Height: 6 to 10 feet, but can be 8 - 10 feet tall with up to a spread of 6 feet; in an urban setting.
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