Care of the shrub Dasylirion longissimum or Mexican Grass Tree |
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The genus Dasylirion, family Asparagaceae, includes 20 species of palm-like perennials native to Mexico and the southwestern United States. Some species are: Dasylirion longissimum, Dasylirion glaucophyllum, Dasylirion acrotrichum, Dasylirion serratifolium, Dasylirion texanum, Dasylirion parryanum. Common name: Mexican Grass Tree. This species is native to the Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico. They are bushy plants with a rounded crown that have a thick and cylindrical stem that reaches 3 meters (9.84 feet) in height. The leaves arise in a symmetrical arrangement, are shaped like long ribbons of more than 1 meter (3.28 feet) in length and are bluish-green in color. They bloom in summer with numerous creamy flowers that appear on flowery trunks and turn into reddish seed-filled tufts. These very slow growing plants are used in rockery, as isolated specimens, in cactus and succulent gardens and in xero-gardening. Dasylirion longissimum can grow in full sun or light shade exposure; they resist frosts down to -10 ºC (14 ºF). They can be grown in any type of well-drained soil; They are ideal plants for poor and dry areas of the garden. They resist drought very well so they do not need irrigation; they are very low maintenance plants. Water sporadically in spring and summer to promote growth. They do not need fertilizers or pruning. The only major enemy for these plants is excess moisture. They propagate by seeds but germinate and grow very slowly. |
Images of the shrub Dasylirion longissimum or Mexican Grass Tree |
 Dasylirion longissimum |