Redflower false yucca
Hesperaloe parviflora · Asparagaceae
📷 Fritz Hochstätter · CC BY-SA 3.0 de
⚠️ Sève contient saponines ; irritation orale et digestive pour chiens/chats/enfants par ingestion.
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around redflower false yucca and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Hesperaloe parviflora
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Type
- Perennial succulent
- Foliage
- Evergreen, grey-green, narrow and fibrous
- Flowering
- June to August, red to pink tubular flowers
- Adult height
- 80 to 120 cm
- Hardiness
- Down to -10 °C depending on varieties
- Origin
- Deserts of Mexico and Texas
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Red Hesperaloe really asks for nothing: dry soil, full sun, no fertilizer. Once established (year 2), it's completely self-sufficient.
The common mistake
People fertilize it or water it too much, which produces soft foliage at the expense of red flowering.
The pro's trick
Leave the faded flowers on the plant until March: they dry out in place and create a very graphic silhouette in winter.
Care
Exposure
Place your red yucca in full sun, for a minimum of 6 to 8 hours per day. This is a plant that loves heat and direct light. In cold regions, prefer a location sheltered from cold winter winds.
Watering
Water moderately during the growing season (spring-summer), letting the soil dry out between waterings. In autumn and winter, drastically reduce watering. A potted plant must be in a very well-draining substrate to prevent root rot.
Soil and substrate
Use a very well-draining mix: cactus soil, coarse sand and pumice. The red yucca tolerates poor soil, so light and mineral soil is more than sufficient. Absolutely avoid rich and moist potting soils.
Fertilizer
A single application of balanced or low-nitrogen fertilizer in spring is more than enough. This arid climate plant only needs a small annual contribution. Stop all feeding in autumn-winter.
Pruning and maintenance
No real pruning is necessary. Simply remove dead flowers and dead or damaged leaves at the base. If needed, you can remove lateral shoots for propagation.
Diseases and pests
Very robust, the red yucca mainly fears excess moisture and root rot. Check for mealybugs in hot and dry climates. Ensure good air circulation if you grow it indoors or in a greenhouse.
Did you know?
Hesperaloe parviflora is a key plant in modern xerophile gardens in Mediterranean and Californian zones, prized for its elegant red flower spikes that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Its name 'Hesperaloe' evokes the evening stars (Hesperus) and 'parviflora' means 'small flowers'—a poetic double reference to its spectacular twilight flowering.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring, once all risk of frost has gone. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: from April to June.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.