Dasylirion wheeleri
Desert Spoon
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Desert Spoon (Dasylirion wheeleri) - Description
D. wheeleri bears spiky bluish gray leaves which form a trunk covered with dried, drooping old leaves.
Desert Spoon (Dasylirion wheeleri) - Blooming
Small, whitish flowers on spikes to 15 feet tall are borne in summer. Male and female flowers appear on separate plants.
Desert Spoon (Dasylirion wheeleri) - Growth
Resembles the yucca. Stiff, spiny, green leaves with sharp edges 2.5 feet long, 1.5 inches side. Plants can be male or female, needing at least one of each to seed. Dasylirion enjoys full sun, or full light, and low humidity. If kept dry, species can tolerate below freezing temperatures. In areas where Dasylirion is not growing hardy, raise plants in a warm greenhouse or conservatory. A warm greenhouse has a minimum temperature of 55°F (13°C). During the day, temperatures should be set to 55-64°F (13-18°C) or above, and at night, the temperature should be at 55°F (13°C). Where hardy, Dasylirion works well as a specimen for a lawn. Also makes a nice addition to a desert garden or raised bed.
Desert Spoon (Dasylirion wheeleri) - Planting
Give plenty of space on the ground or grow in pot. Sow seeds in spring at 70°F (21°C).
Desert Spoon (Dasylirion wheeleri) - Pest
Scale insects. Other problems include canker and leaf spot.
Desert Spoon (Dasylirion wheeleri) - Soil and irrigation
Must have fast draining soil or roots will rot. Good on dry, rocky, alkaline soil, but rots in high-rainfall, high-humidity areas. Tolerates salt spray. No water once established. Indoors, use a mix of 2 parts each of loam and sand, and 1 part each of leaf mold and peat.
