Sotol (Dasylirion wheeleri)

   

Dasylirion wheeleri, El Paso, Texas. Photograph by Wynn Anderson.

• Common English Names: Blue Sotol, Grey Sotol, Sotol, Common Sotol, Desert Spoon, Desert Candle
• Common Spanish Names: Sotol
• Scientific Name: Dasylirion wheeleri (daz-ee-LEER-ee-on WHEEL-er-eye)
• Family: Agavaceae (Agave Family) (formerly in Liliaceae)
• Geographic Range: Desert grassland slopes: southern Arizona; southern New Mexico; and Far West Texas; northern Chihuahua, Mexico.
• Plant Form: Evergreen shrub 4' H x 6' W.
• Remarks: Short, thick, often partially buried central stem with numerous long, thin, flat, bluish green leaves, 1/2" wide and 3' long, forming rounded clump resembling a large clump of coarse grass from a distance. Leaf edges armed with prominent, sharply hooked teeth. Numerous, tiny flowers form a thick spike on 10 to 12' stalk, May to July. Low water, full sun to light part-shade, good drainage. Cold hardy to about 5° F. Very xeric shrub for desertic landscape accent.
• Ethnobotany: Ethnobotanical comments by Jane SpottedBird. To return to this page, use the back button on your browser.

Last Update: 23 Jan 2003