Dasylirion wheeleri

This form of Dasylirion comes from the Sonora and Chihuahua areas of Mexico but it is also considered native to Arizona, Texas and New Mexico.  

The leaves are long, slim and a silvery blue-green – perfect for the hot dry lands in which it thrives. The height there can be an impressive 8m but it is a slow growing plant and is unlikely ever to achieve that in the UK, so expect maybe 2m. Plant on very well drained soil, in full sun and in a sheltered position. 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. 

In Mexico, this, like many of the other Dasylirion species, have been used by the indigenous populations for food, the crown being baked or roasted in rock lined pits before being dried and ground to make flour. This was either made into cakes or with the addition of water, fermented and either drunk as beer or distilled to make Sotol which is a very popular spirit. It was only legalized 30 years ago and now has a Denomination of Origin limiting production to Sonora and Chihuahua. Ironically, this very popularity presents a problem since the plants are too slow growing to be farmed successfully so a lot of wild plants are being harvested and turned into Sotol for the aficionados for whom the type of plant, the place of growing and the style of production are important.