Desert spoon

Dasylirion wheeleri

This agave-like plant grows best in deserts at elevations above 3000 feet. The blue-green leaves are armed with hooked teeth and spring gracefully from a central rosette. The plants are either male or female; male flowers are creamy white, and the female inflorescences appear a bright green.


Details & Attributes


Plant Type(s) Shrub
Longevity 40 (in years)
Size
In relative feet, width by height
6 X 5
Description Very long and narrow, forming a rosette at the top of the stem.
Flower Color White
Fruit Very small.
Range Map Click Here to View
Sun Full
Spines or Thornes Yes
Freeze Tolerance Poor
Ethnobotany/Medical Crowns pit-baked, crushed, and fermented for use as a beverage. Stalks roasted, boiled, eaten raw. Stalks used for cradleboard backs, as a source for material for basketry, mats, and for ceremonial purposes.
Water Needs Low