(Green Desert Spoon, Green Sotol)

This bold finely textured yucca-like plant is ideal for large, open gardens where it can achieve its full magnificent stature. Green sotal is native to arid central Mexico. It forms a large, rounded, dense rosette of pointy, narrow pale yellow-green leaves edged with small curved teeth. They are painful to the touch and effectively deter browsing wildlife. As it matures, the rosette develops a dense trunk-like base.

This is an annual bloomer that sends up a very tall spike of flowers from its...

(Blue Giant, Blue Twister, Desert Spoon, Zaragosa)

This genus of 18 semi-succulent species is little known outside the desert Southwest. These truly striking plants are native to the southern United States and Mexico, closely resembling both yuccas and agaves. They are found in very arid lands, along dry washes and on rocky hillsides where soils are porous and extremely well drained. In their region of origin no rain may fall for ten months or more, and these plants have adapted to surviving such extended drought.

The plants of Dasylirion...

(Smooth Desert Spoon, Smooth Sotol)

The fine wiry leaves of this incredible desert plant create such a sculptural look they are coveted by modern landscape designers. Smooth sotal is native to the dry brushy hillsides and arroyos of northeastern Mexico. Its dense rosette of foliage is stemless but very mature specimens develop a stout trunk-like base, though this is rarely seen in cultivated landscapes.

This is an annual bloomer that sends up a very tall spike of flowers from its center topped with loads of small flowers that...

(Green Desert Spoon, Sotol)

This genus of 18 semi-succulent species is little known outside the desert Southwest. These truly striking plants are native to the southern United States and Mexico, closely resembling both yuccas and agaves. They are found in very arid lands, along dry washes and on rocky hillsides where soils are porous and extremely well drained. In their region of origin no rain may fall for ten months or more, and these plants have adapted to surviving such extended drought.

The plants of Dasylirion...

(Wheeler's Sotol)

The beautiful long, flattened, icy blue leaves of Wheeler's sotol form a magnificent rosette. This desert plant is native to Arizona and New Mexico, extending south into parts of arid northern Mexico. Its pointed, ribbon like leaves are edged with small curved teeth, creating a formidable deterrent to browsing wildlife. As it matures, the rosette develops a dense trunk-like base.

This annual bloomer sends up very tall flower spikes from its center topped with loads of small flowers that cover...

(Downy Thornapple, Pricklyburr)

Downy thornapple is a large, bushy, herbaceous perennial (or annual) that looks best in early morning when its flowers stand open to the dawn sky. It has naturalized in dry washes, rocky hillsides and waste places from sea level to middle elevations in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States as well as regions in the northeast, though it is native to Central and South America.

This heat-lover relies on a deep tap root to reach moisture trapped beneath dry soil. Its downy, oval, dark...

(Downy Thornapple, Pricklyburr)

Extra large, fragrant, white flowers are produced by the vigorous ‘Belle Blanche.’ Downy thornapple is a large, bushy, herbaceous perennial (or annual) that looks best in early morning when its flowers stand open to the dawn sky. Datura inoxia is naturally found in dry washes, rocky hillsides and waste places from sea level to middle elevations in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, though it has become naturalized in other parts of the country.

This heat-lover relies...

(Downy Thornapple, Pricklyburr)

Large, double yellow flowers are borne on the pretty downy thornapple, 'Cherub.' This large, bushy, herbaceous perennial (or annual) looks best in early morning when its flowers stand open to the dawn sky. Datura inoxia is naturally found in dry washes, rocky hillsides and waste places from sea level to middle elevations in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, though it has become naturalized in other parts of the country.

This heat-lover relies on a deep tap root to reach...

(Downy Thornapple, Pricklyburr)

The dramatic double flowers of 'Cornucopia' are white on the interior and glossy royal purple on the exterior. It is by far one of the most popular of all the cultivated Datura and a regular showpiece at botanical gardens and arboreta.

This large, bushy, herbaceous perennial (or annual) looks best in early morning when its flowers stand open to the dawn sky. Datura inoxia is naturally found in dry washes, rocky hillsides and waste places from sea level to middle elevations...

(Downy Thornapple, Pricklyburr)

The large, double, yellow blooms of 'Double Golden Queen' are elegant and fragrant. Downy thornapple is a large, bushy, herbaceous perennial (or annual) that looks best in early morning when its flowers stand open to the dawn sky. It is naturally found in dry washes, rocky hillsides and waste places from sea level to middle elevations in northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, though it has become naturalized in other parts of the country.

This heat-lover relies on a deep tap root...