The Nolina Page
Nolinaceae = Beargrass Family

Beaucarnea gracilis  Lemaire 1861
Syn. Nolina gracilis  Ciferri & Giacomini 1950
 
Even a small plant develops a substantial caudex, which becomes very large in old plants, up to 8ft in diameter at its base. The 2-3ft long leaves have minute sharp teeth along their edges. The inflorescence is a panicle of tiny cream flowers.
 
Native to the Mexican states of Puebla and Oaxaca Mexico. Photographed in the University of Oxford's Botanic Garden.

Beaucarnea recurvata  Lemaire 1861  Syn. Nolina recurvata (Pony-Tail Palm)
is mass produced by the horticultural trade as a decorative bedding plant for warm climates and as a tender patio plant requiring winter protection from frost in temperate climates. Typically sold at 10 - 12 inches tall, these plants can grow very large with proper care over many years. If the growing tip is lost through cold, pruning or other damage, the stem can produce side shoots, as seen on the smaller plant at the rear. An attractively branched specimen of limited height can be produced through judicious pruning.
 
The 10ft specimen in the Princess of Wales Conservatory at RBG Kew produced a splendid inflorescence in February 2005 and Octuber 2011.

Left: Beaucarnea recurvata inflorescence. Flowering is rarely seen in cultivation, as the plant has to be sufficiently old to have reached a substantial size.

Beaucarnea stricta  Lemaire 1861 (Estrellas)
is a substantial 20-30 ft tree. The stout trunk has a swollen, conical base and one or more rosettes of stiff, straight blue-green 3ft leaves on branches near the top of the trunk. Old leaves remain as felting on the trunk unless removed. The inflorescence consists of many tiny greenish-yellow flowers on a branched stem.
 
Beaucarnea stricta is native to forests of the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is sometimes used as an specimen plant in warm or Mediterranean climates. These magnificent specimens have reached the roof of the Princess of Wales Conservatory, RBG Kew. Flowering March 2010.

Calibanus hookeri  Trelease 1911
has bundles of long coarse leaves emerging from a woody caudex that may become very large. Tiny serrations along the edge of the leaves give them a rough feel. The branched inflorescence arising from and mainly held within a tuft of leaves carries numerous small purple flowers. Tufts of leaves die after flowering but the remaining non-flowering bunches of leaves continue to grow.
 
Calibanus hookeri is distributed through North-East and Central Mexico. Coming from dry mountainous areas, it is tolerant of considerable dry cold. It eventually makes an excellent show specimen in a large pot size and is relatively undemanding.
 
Photo: Bob Weeks

Left: Dasylirion acrotrichum  Zuccarini 1840 (Cucharilla, Green Desert Spoon)
Greek: acrotrichum = with hairy end. Spanish: Cucharilla = little spoon.
A decorative, xerophytic plant from the deserts of Eastern Mexico. The narrow, 3ft long leaves are organised into one or more dense rosettes which in older plants are carried on the end of stout trunks. Hooked marginal teeth point away from the leaf base and leaf tips fray in the wind to a tuft of fibres which catch the sunlight. The leaf base is in the shape of a spoon. The inflorescence is a 15ft spike of many small brownish-white flowers arranged on numerous side branches.
Suitable for a Mediterranean climate and said to be moderately hardy in a well-drained soil, so worth trying if you have a very sunny sheltered corner, can overwinter indoors or under cover or protect it with a fleece.

Left: Dasylirion cedrosanum  Trelease 1911
A beautiful glaucous blue plant from Northern Mexico, similar to D. wheeleri although the leaves may be slightly wider. Marginal teeth point away from the leaf base. A short thick trunk develops with age. It is not widely grown, but is said to be quite hardy in a well-drained soil, so worth trying if you have a sunny sheltered corner.
Photographed in the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Arizona.

Left: Dasylirion leiophyllum  Engelmann ex Trelease 1911 (Sotol)
in the "Green Gulch" of the Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Texas. Although sufficiently mature to flower, these rosettes are stem-less. The hooked teeth on the leaf margins of this species curve towards the base of the leaves.
Where its range overlaps with D. texanum, hybrids with intermediate morphology occur, with marginal teeth pointing towards the leaf base, leaf tip or straight out.
 
Left: Dasylirion leiophyllum (Sotol) - Davis Mountains, Texas. These mature specimens have developed short trunks hidden by persistent old leaves. Trunks may grow up to 5ft tall.
This hardy species is distributed through West Texas and East New Mexico into Mexico. It is cold resistant and widely grown as an ornamental within its natural range.

Left: Dasylirion longissimum  Lemaire 1856  Syn. D. quadrangulatum (Mexican Grass Tree)
is a large, spreading plant developing a trunk up to 15ft and felted with old leaves. Old plants may develop multiple heads of leaves, typically branching after flowering. The narrow, 4-angled leaves have slightly rough margins, but no teeth. Their stiff, arching appearance is distinctive. The inflorescence is a narrow 10ft spike of many tiny red-brown buds and white flowers. Native to hillsides of North-Eastern Mexico.
 
Photographed in the Temperate House, RBG Kew where it gets more shade than necessary, and probably more warmth than required. This species is reported to be moderately frost hardy providing it is planted in very well drained soil in a sunny position. Old leaves could be trimmed to display the trunk if required.

Left: Dasylirion wheeleri  S. Watson 1878 (Sotol)
This species develops a trunk up to 5ft tall. The leaves produce a glaucous bloom when grown under cover, but this is washed off in habitat. It is mainly distributed through Arizona and Southern New Mexico into Mexico and being hardy and tolerant of poor soil is widely grown as an ornamental in the Southern USA.
 
Native peoples harvested the leaves to weave into baskets, mats, cords and thatching. The emerging inflorescence can be roasted and eaten. The plant was used to make an alcoholic liquor for distillation into a spirit called "Sotol".
Seen here South of Phoenix, Arizona.

Nolina bigelovii  S. Watson 1879 (Desert Nolina)
flowering in Northern Arizona near Flagstaff, May 1997. With time, this species develops a trunk up to 10ft tall. Leaf margins are smooth and may be filamentous. Growing at an altitude of around 6000ft above sea level, this plant can be expected to show a degree of dry-cold resistance and is extremely drought resistant.
 
Nolina bigelovii is found in the dryest parts of Southeastern California through Southwest Arizona into Southern Nevada and also Sonoran Mexico and Baja California.

Nolina aff. Durangensis  Trelease 1911 (Durango Beargrass Tree)
The large (10 in) caudex produces long, tapering grey-green leaves half an inch wide. With age, the plant forms a stout trunk.
Native to the mountains of the Sierra Madre in the State of Durango, Eastern Mexico. Photographed in the Princess of Wales Conservatory, RBG Kew.

Nolina erumpens  S. Watson 1879 (Foothill Bear Grass)
with 5ft tall seed heads in the Chisos Mountains of the Big Bend National Park, Texas, in October 2003. The leaves remain erect and have finely toothed margins. The inflorescence and therefore seed heads is carried above the leaves. Growing at an altitude of around 6000ft above sea level, this individual must have a degree of cold resistance and tolerate occasional snow.
The species is distributed through West Texas into Mexico.

Nolina matapensis  Wiggins 1940 (Sonoran Tree Beargrass)
grows a trunk up to 25 ft tall, branching near the top and widening at the base. A felting of old leaves usually hides the dark fissured bark. The trunk carries large disorderly tufts of long blue-green grass-like leaves tapering to a point and with finely toothed margins. The inflorescence is a plume of numerous small creamy-white flowers.
Nolina matapensis is found in woodlands from 3500 - 6000 ft in Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico and occasionally seen as an ornamental in Mexico and the South-West USA. It is suitable for cultivation in Mediterranean climates and reported to tolerate mild frosts. Photographed in the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Arizona.

Nolina microcarpa  S. Watson 1879 (Beargrass, sacahuista)
in the Coronado National Forest, Southern Arizona. This stemless species has long narrow arching leaves with distinct fine teeth on their margins and a flattened keel on their underside.
 
Nolina microcarpa is distributed through high grasslands and forests (3500 - 5500ft) of Southern Arizona to West Texas and into Mexico. It will survive considerable dry cold.
 
Left: Clumps of Beargrass in high grassland of the Davis Mountains. Almost all the plants in this landscape are monocotyledons. A variety of grasses carpet the landscape between Nolinas, Dasylirions and Yuccas. A few hardy Opuntias (dicotyledons) also survive here.

Left: Nolina sp. flowering outside the Princess of Wales Conservatory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Although North-American Nolina species are dry-cold hardy, the continual wetness of an English winter is a challenge and a very well-drained soil is essential. However, this specimen has flourished for many years.
 
The cacti were bedded out for a temporary summer display.

Nolina palmeri  S. Watson 1879 (Palmer's Bear Grass)
is found in the mountains of Baja California. There is no trunk or a very short one.
Photographed in the Temperate House, RBG Kew.

Nolina parryi  S. Watson 1879 (Parry's Nolina)
is distributed through Southern California into Baja California below 3000ft. Often seen as a ground-hugging clump of fine olive-coloured leaves, it can develop a short 6ft trunk with age. Leaf margins are furnished with tiny sharp teeth. The 6 ft inflorescence is a panicle of small cream-coloured flowers and a group of flowering plants makes a superb display. It is surprising that Nolina parryi is not grown more often as a drought-tolerant garden plant.
Seen here growing among rocks in the Joshua Tree Park, California.
 
more images of Nolina parryi

Nolina parryi subsp. wolfii  Munz 1950
flowering near the Arizona Joshua Tree Park Drive, Northern Arizona. This sub-species occurs in California at higher altitudes up to 5500ft with a limited distribution in Northern Arizona. It is regarded by some as a variety of Nolina bigelovii. The 15 ft trunk and 12 ft inflorescence are both substantially larger than those of Nolina parryi. Considering its range, it is also likely to be more tolerant of cold.

Nolina texana  S. Watson 1879 (Devil's Shoestring, Texas sacahuista)
is a very similar species to Nolina erumpens but slightly smaller with narrower leaves, found from central Texas into Arizona and Southwards into Mexico. The inflorescence is produced down among the leaves instead of rising above it. Unfortunately, plant size depends much on the local environment.
Left: This small plant with narrower leaves than Nolina erumpens could be interpreted as Nolina texana. It was growing at a lower altitude in the "Green Gulch" of the Chisos Mountains, Big Bend National Park, Texas.
 
Left: Nolina texana
Flowering in the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Arizona.