Dasylirion parryanum

This is a rare plant from a very restricted region of Mexico. Dasylirion parryanum is native to the mountainous, desert areas of San Luis Potosi in central Mexico growing on steep slopes up to 2,500m high. Slow growing, they are rarely available for amateur gardeners. 

They develop a dome of tufty ended, serrated stiff blue-green leaves on sturdy 1m high trunks.  In the wild they can reach 3m in height. They are drought tolerant and can withstand quite low temperatures if grown in a dry environment; such as in cities or by the coast, on scree, or in south facing raised beds or slopes. Quite good in pots. 

Dasylirions are perennial and diecious producing huge flower spikes of either male or female flowers which are wind pollinated. Male flowers tend to be cream or yellow, while female flowers tend to be reddish but unfortunately, there is no way of distinguishing whether the plant is male or female other than waiting until it flowers. The plant does not die after flowering but continues to grow as a single head of foliage. Though there may be a lot of insect activity around the flowers, they are wind pollinated and do not produce nectar.  

The word Dasylirion is from the Greek, translating as shaggy lily – ‘dasy’ meaning dense or shaggy, and ‘lirion’ meaning lily.