Green Desert Spoon
Dasylirion acrotrichum, Agave Family ( Agaveae or Agavaceae ), Green Desert Spoon. Also called: Green Sotol, Yucca acrotricha, Dasylirion acrotriche, Dasylirion gracile, Bonapartea gracile, Roulinia gracile, Yucca gracile.
The Green Desert Spoon looks like the common Sotol except that it is greener in color. The narrow leaves are organized in densely packed rosettes of 100 to 300 leaves. The leaf margins have small recurved spines.
Sotol has leathery yucca - like leaves, with tiny hooked thorns along the margins, growing from a central point. The leaves form at the base with a spoon-shape that gives the plant its name.
Eventually the plant forms a rounded 5 - 6 foot ball of spiked foliage, from which a thick woody bloom stalk, up to 10-15 feet tall, emerges bearing cup shaped silvery - green to cream white flowers.
The leaves are very sharp and should be planted away from walkways.
Height: 4 - 6 feet tall. It spreads to about 6 feet.
Flowers: A large stalk emerges from the center of the plant, it becomes 6 to 15 feet tall. Then dioecious; insignificant whitish green flowers clustered tightly on the stalk emerge from the stalk; it bears female and male flowers on different plants; the female plant flower structure is more rounded, on the male plant it is more narrow.
Blooming Time: Phoenix Arizona, Mid May - June.
Seeds: It produces small brownish seed about 1/2inch long joined with 3 papery disks as a trifoliate wing.
Leaves: The leaves are silver green or bluish-green with flat elongated blades, 2 - 3 1/2 feet long, the margins are toothed. The leaves terminate into fibers.
Found: Native to east - central Mexico. Near Durango, Jalisco, and Tamaulipas.
Elevation: 3,000 - 5,200 Feet. In Arizona.
Habitat: It grows well in sand, sandy loam, clay and other heavy soils. It needs good drainage and aeration. Takes full sun; takes reflected heat. It grows well at low elevations in Arizona as well as at its normal range.
Miscellaneous: Maintenance: Low. Hardy to about 20°F. Photos Taken April 4, 2008. Summer Winds Nursery. Glendale.
