Giant Hesperaloe
Hesperaloe funifera
Family: Asparagaceae
This clumping, stemless, upright plant grows to 6 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide. Giant Hesperaloe has stiff, broad, lime green leaves with coarse white fibers along the margins. In the summer it blooms, sending up a 12-15 foot tall flower spike of creamy white flowers.
Plant in full to part sun or even bright shade. Low water when established, though a drink once or twice a month keeps plants looking good. Cold hardy, to -10°F.
Plants are attractive to hummingbirds and other nectar-seeking birds, insects, etc. If you don’t want to expensively feed javalinas, protect these plants as they are loved by them. The dried, leftover stems of Hesperaloe are used by some solitary bee species for larval nests.
Hesperaloe are a good choice for people who don’t like spikey plants, since the stems are softer and relatively harmless.
The genus Hesperaloe is derived from the Greek word hesperos, meaning "western," and aloe. The specific name funifera is derived from the Latin funis "rope" and fero "I bear" and thus signifies "bearer (provider) of rope" in reference to the plant's strong fibre, which may be used for this purpose.
Photo by Mountain States Wholesale Nursery
Hesperaloe funifera on iNaturalist
Hesperaloe species has potential to be a productive agricultural crop in arid regions of the United States. The University of Arizona has been working with several companies in the pulp and paper industry to develop Hesperaloe as a new source of fibers for papermaking. Hesperaloe fibers are unusually long and thin, similar to those of abaca and sisal. Such nonwood fibers have important uses in high-value specialty papers. While abaca and sisal fibers are imported, Hesperaloe could be produced in the southwestern United States. Hesperaloe funifera is the most popular species farmed for this purpose.
Found on rocky slopes and open plains in the Tamaulipan mezquital and the eastern edges of the Chihuahuan Desert, in Texas (Val Verde County) and northern Mexico (Coahuila, San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León).