Desert Spoon (Toothless)

Dasylirion longissimum

Light

Water

Low water once established; water deeply, then let soil dry thoroughly. Occasional supplemental summer irrigation improves appearance in Phoenix. Water newly planted specimens more regularly; reduce watering substantially in winter.

Size

5-6 ft tall × 4-5 ft wide

Habit

Rosette succulent

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Description

Dasylirion longissimum, commonly called toothless desert spoon or Mexican grass tree, forms a rounded fountain of slender, grasslike leaves with smooth margins, eventually developing a stout trunk.

Bloom Time

Summer; tall flower stalks emerge infrequently.

Deciduous / Evergreen

Evergreen

Special Features

Architectural Form, Drought Tolerant

Growth Rate

Slow

Growth Habit

Rosette succulent

Mature Size

5-6 ft tall × 4-5 ft wide

Flower Color

Cream to white

Foliage Color

Green

Landscape Use

Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape, Specimen / Accent

Garden Style

Container / Patio, Desert / Xeriscape

Soil

Alkaline Tolerant, Sandy / Rocky, Well-Drained

Companion Plants

Blackfoot daisy, Desert marigold, Golden barrel cactus, Red yucca, Santa Rita prickly pear

Non-toxic

Care Instructions

Light: Full sun; tolerates light shade. Acclimate nursery-grown plants gradually to intense Phoenix sun.

Water: Low water once established; water deeply, then let soil dry thoroughly. Occasional supplemental summer irrigation improves appearance in Phoenix. Water newly planted specimens more regularly; reduce watering substantially in winter.

Soil: Very well-drained sandy, gravelly, or rocky soil. Tolerates alkaline soil; plant on a raised mound where drainage is poor.

Mature size: Typically 6–10 feet tall and 6–8 feet wide; very old, trunked specimens may reach 12–15 feet tall, excluding flower stalks.

Bloom: Mature plants bloom intermittently in late spring or summer. Flowering does not kill the plant.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen.

Growth rate: Slow; trunk development takes many years.