Growing Hesperaloe in pots

Which varieties of Hesperaloe should you grow in pots?

Hesperaloe belongs to the Agavaceae family.

For growing in pots, you can choose:

• Hesperaloe parviflora – Red Yucca: Formed of a rosette of slender, leathery green leaves, this plant produces a flowering period from June to August in cheerful shades from salmon-red to coral-red. Tubular flowers appear along the flower stalks and their nectar attracts pollinating insects. It reaches a height of 1.2 metres and 60 cm in width. Slow-growing and very hardy, it can be grown in pots. It is hardy down to -15°C in well-drained soil and in the ground, but it is somewhat less frost- and snow-tolerant when grown in a pot.
• Hesperaloe parviflora ‘Rubra’ – Red Yucca: it differs from the previous one by the colour of its slender leaves which are green and purple.
• Hesperaloe parvifolia ‘Desert Rose’: it is a more compact variety than the two preceding ones, reaching a height of 1 metre and a width of 60 cm. It is also notable for its abundant summer flowering and its ease of cultivation in our regions.

The beautiful flowering of Hesperaloe parviflora.

When and where should I plant a Hesperaloe in a pot?

• The best time to plant Hesperaloe parviflora is from March to September.
• Hesperaloe appreciates exposure in full sun and heat. It thrives in well-drained soil, even dry, gravelly or light. It is suited to a Mediterranean climate.
• Hardy, it can withstand temperatures down to around -15°C when grown in a pot, and can therefore be grown outside regions with a Mediterranean climate.

Sun and heat are the conditions for growing the Hesperaloe (©Sophie Dionet).

How to grow Hesperaloe in a pot?

What type of pot?

Any type of pot may be used. However, terracotta pots are preferable, as they allow water to evaporate more readily.

What substrate?

Hesperaloe requires a very well-drained substrate to survive. Provide it with a soil mixed with sand and gravel to give it ideal growing conditions and increase its cold tolerance. It tolerates ordinary soil, not too heavy, perhaps poor and rocky, slightly acidic or calcareous. The important thing is that it is very well drained.

Planting

• Take a large terracotta pot with a pierced bottom and place a drainage layer at the bottom of the pot, using clay balls or pozzolana.
• Cover with a well-draining substrate, such as a mix of soil and sand or gravel.
• Place the young plant at the centre and cover its roots with the rest of the substrate, without covering the collar of the bush.
• You can cover the surface with small pebbles or gravel.
• Firmly pack down and water.

Where it is hot and dry, Hesperaloe is easily grown in pots without needing care (©Sophie Dionet).

Care

Watering and fertilising

L’Hesperaloe is a plant accustomed to a semi-arid climate and requires little water. Water about once a week in summer to encourage flowering and let it dry out between each watering.
It does not require fertiliser.

Pruning

Remove faded flowering stems and damaged leaves if necessary.

Cold protection

This plant tolerates damp cold and is hardy down to -15°C in the ground, a little less if grown in a pot. If you live in a region with very cold winters, consider bringing it indoors or protecting it with a winter veil.

Diseases and pests

L’Hesperaloe is a very robust plant that does not suffer from diseases or pests. Its only weakness may be excess moisture.

For more information, discover our full page on the cultivation, maintenance and care of potted plants, as well as our guide to the planting, growing and maintaining outdoor succulents and cacti.