<em>Beschorneria</em>: planting and care

Description and Botany

Beschorneria or Mexican lily, sometimes also called “false yucca” and “false agave”, is a herbaceous succulent perennial of the family Agavaceae, like Agave and Yucca, native to open oak and pine woodlands and rocky slopes up to 3,500 m altitude, from semi‑desert to even humid areas of Mexico.

Genus Beschorneria includes ten species of perennials well adapted to our temperate climates that are not too cold. Beschorneria yuccoides, the most widespread, hardy to around -8/-10°C, is frequently seen in Breton and Mediterranean gardens. Less well known, the Beschorneria septentrionalis, is certainly the hardiest species in the genus (down to -15 °C in perfectly drained soil).

Rather slow‑growing but long‑lived, Beschorneria can take 5 to 10 years to reach full maturity but thickens over the years thanks to its rootstocks capable of producing numerous offsets around the initial rosette, which ensure its longevity: these small peripheral rosettes will flower in subsequent years, thus ensuring descendants. It can become invasive where it is happy!

The plant forms a rosette of basal leaves, 50 cm to over 2 metres tall in flower and 1 m to 1.50 m wide depending on species. Only Beschorneria albiflora develops a small trunk.

This large rosette is made up of large evergreen strap‑like leaves, 90 to 120 cm long and about 10 cm wide, lying directly on the soil and imbricate.

Sword‑shaped, they are lanceolate but not sharp‑pointed at the tip as in Yuccas, slightly canaliculate, flexible and bend outwards. They are mostly soft, more rarely slightly rough. Succulent and glaucous, they display a very attractive vivid green or silvery bluish‑green colour. The Beschorneria yuccoides ‘Quicksilver’ has foliage more silvery than the species. In some cultivars, the leaves are variegated with cream.

From this very exotic clump of leaves emerges in summer, from May–June to August depending on sunlight and climate conditions, a consistently impressive flowering. A single majestic apical flower spike, reaching 1.50 to 2 m in height, arises from the heart of each rosette. This spectacular flowering only occurs after 3 to 4 years of cultivation, since Beschorneria needs time to develop sufficiently to bloom. Unlike most Agavaceae, the plant is not semelparous and does not die after flowering.

Beschorneria yuccoides

Each large fleshy, serpentiform stem, red‑pink in colour, stands upright then arches towards the ground to one side. It bears numerous tubular, pendulous flowers gathered in racemes. They resemble long little bells or small downward‑facing tulips. The corollas comprise 3 petals of a striking apple‑green, flushed with red at the base, and 3 petaloid sepals, with red or pink bracts surrounding them. Flowering is more graceful in Beschorneria septentrionalis than in Beschorneria yuccoides. As they open, the colour of the bracts intensifies to a coral‑red, contrasting with the vivid green and enhancing the exotic look of the display. Beschorneria albiflora is distinguished by pale pinkish‑white flowers.

These two‑coloured bells, gracefully inclined towards the ground and loaded with nectar, attract many pollinating insects.

Depending on species, the flowers are followed by fruits, dehiscent capsules, or by bulblets capable of taking root.

Contrary to popular belief, beneath its exotic appearance, Beschorneria is hardier than often thought and perfectly suited to our temperate climates that are not too severe. In colder regions, grow it in large pots and overwinter under cover.

It thrives in full sun or partial shade in warm climates, in ordinary rather light soil, even stony and sandy, but crucially very well drained.

In milder areas, it can structure a large exotic rockery, a dry bank, a Mediterranean plant bed or the edge of a dry wood. It is essential in a scree garden, in a dry garden as well as in Mediterranean‑inspired gardens.

Main species and varieties

Most popular

Beschorneria septentrionalis

More slender, of a much brighter red-pink and greener foliage than its cousin B.yuccoides, it is also the hardiest of the genus!

• Flowering time July to September
• Height at maturity 60 cm

See the product sheet

Beschorneria yuccoides

More tender, this species has an attractive fountain habit. It will be equally happy in sun on a terrace, in a rock garden or in a light, dry understorey.

• Flowering time July to September
• Height at maturity 70 cm

See the product sheet

Our favourites

Beschorneria yuccoides Quicksilver

This Beschornéria is notable for leaves more silvery than those of the typical form. Not very hardy, in mild climates it is ideal for structuring a large rock garden, a dry slope or an exotic planting. Gardeners in colder regions will place it in a very large pot on the terrace.

• Flowering time July to September
• Height at maturity 70 cm

See the product sheet

Planting

Where to plant Beschorneria?

Beschorneria is a perennial not so tender, which will nevertheless withstand frosts down to about -15°C (sometimes only -7 to -10°C for semi-hardy species) but only in very well-drained soil. In regions with harsh, overly wet winters, its hardiness is often severely tested. Prefer regions with mild winters and short frosts to grow it in open ground: it dislikes moisture, especially when combined with cold.

It therefore favours climates of Mediterranean regions or the Breton coast. In mild climate, it tolerates sea spray very well and grows very well by the sea. In colder regions, plant it in a very large pot on the terrace, to be brought in for winter indoors or into an unheated greenhouse, sheltered from severe frosts.

It prefers well-sunny positions and will accept partial shade in the warmest parts of the country. From its Mexican origins, it has retained a good resistance to drought and to high summer heat. It will grow without difficulty in dry shade under trees, between the roots.

Undemanding about soil type, it accepts almost any well-drained soil. It prefers poor, sandy, dry or even rocky and calcareous soils.

If your site retains too much moisture, plant it preferably on a well-sloping bank that will drain naturally.

Allow sufficient space because after a few years it will reach substantial proportions. It produces suckers to fully occupy available space and can become invasive.

With its very graphic habit, this succulent plant used singly or in groups structures exotic scenes of large dry rock gardens, arid banks, and large gravel beds, to which it brings scale and relief. Without thorns, it can line sumptuous paths. In pots, it gives an exotic touch to terraces and small urban gardens.

When to plant?

Planting is done in spring, ideally from April to May, or in late summer, August to September.

How to plant?

Allow about 3 Beschorneria plants per m². For heavy soil: add gravel, small stones or coarse sand to improve drainage as it dislikes winter moisture.

In open ground

• Dig a hole 2 to 3 times the volume of the pot
• Add about 10 cm of large stones or gravel to the bottom of the planting hole
• Plant Beschorneria without burying the collar too deeply
• Backfill with a mixture of compost, river sand (50%) and ordinary garden soil
• Firm down lightly
• Mulch with a layer of gravel or pumice to keep soil cool and release heat during the night
• Water well at planting then during dry spells

Beshorneria septentrionalis, undoubtedly the hardiest species in the genus!

In pots

Beschorneria performs very well in pots and should be brought in for winter in cold, wet regions into a cool room or unheated greenhouse. Substrate must be very free-draining to avoid root rot in case of excess water. Pay attention to container size as the plant develops quite large.

• In a very large terracotta pot of at least 60 cm diameter, spread a good layer of gravel, stones or clay pebbles
• Plant in a mix of garden soil, coarse sand and potting compost for Mediterranean plants
• Mulch around the base with gravel or pebbles to prevent collar rot
• Water, then carry out regular watering allowing soil to dry between waterings

Care and maintenance

Well suited to dry gardens and soils, the Beschorneria is a plant with low water requirements, although it does appreciate occasional watering to keep leaves plump.

In summer, water about once every two weeks. Once well rooted in free-draining soil, it will only need watering during prolonged drought.

In winter, stop watering.

In colder regions, you can protect plant from severe frosts with a winter fleece.

Maintenance is limited to cutting faded or desiccated flower stems and tidying old foliage at end of winter: using a pruning shear or a shear, cut blackened, damaged or wilted leaves right back to base. Beschorneria really requires little maintenance but can become invasive where it thrives: remove suckers after flowering if you wish to limit its spread.

In a pot 

Bring pot indoors before first frosts, keep in a cool room (between 0 and -5°C) and restrict to a sparse watering once a month in winter. It will appreciate light misting of its leaves from time to time.

Every 3 or 4 years, in spring, repot into a slightly larger pot or top-dress, adding a layer of garden soil and potting compost to a depth of one-third.

As for diseases, the Beschorneria is largely trouble-free apart from winter damp and severe frosts.

→ Learn more with our advice sheet: Diseases and parasites of Beschorneria and To grow a Beschorneria in a pot.

Multiplication

Sowing is possible in February–March, in a light, moist substrate kept warm at 21 °C. The Beschorneria naturally produces well-developed suckers around the main rosette that appear after flowering. They are very easy to detach, allowing propagation by removing young rosettes in spring. But be patient: they will take 3 to 4 years to flower.

• Using a spade, gently lift the sucker
• With a pruning shear, separate it from the mother plant
• Replant it directly in the ground or pot it in a light mix of gravel, garden soil and river sand
• Water

Companion planting for Beschorneria

Beschorneria is the ideal perennial for exotic-inspired gardens, contemporary or Mediterranean, and sun‑baked dry gardens. With its shaggy silhouette and spectacular summer flowering, it helps structure rockeries and slopes or add scale to a bed of low Mediterranean perennials and small bushes.

On a slope it can be paired with equally undemanding plants such as Agave americana, prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica), giant fennel, Cylindropuntia imbricata and Opuntia humifosa, two hardy cacti, and the blue‑leaved Yucca rigida.

An example of a combination in perfectly drained soil, in full sun and mild climate: Beschorneria yuccoides, Phormium tenax ‘Golden Ray’ (replace with Yucca ‘Bright Star’ or ‘Colour Guard’ in colder climates), Agave havardiana, Anigozanthos flavidus (Hesperaloe parviflora ‘Rubra’ or Crocosmias among the hardiest in colder climates), Senecio mandraliscae (Festuca ‘Intense Blue’ or Helictotrichon sempervirens to bring that bluish touch in colder climates) and Sedum spectabile ‘Brilliant’ (or ‘Septemberglut’)

In a border of Mediterranean perennials, it will make an interesting focal point around Hesperaloe parviflora, the Canary viper’s‑bugloss, Aloe vera, Geranium maderense, cordylines or Acanthus sennii with thistle‑like leaves.

In a more naturalistic planting, its spineless leaves blend very well with other perennials that require no maintenance such as shrubby sages, an arborescent aloe, dianthus.

On the edge of a light woodland, it will sit easily alongside Acanthus mollis, Phlomis samia or Jerusalem sage.

It will stand out in mineral scenes surrounded by grasses such as Miscanthus or Stipa gigantea and by dry‑soil groundcover plants such as dwarf artemises, perennial purslane, thymes and sedums.

In cold, wet regions, plant it in a very large pot on the terrace, just beside a Crassula sarcocaulis, a small banana or palms.

→ Discover other ideas for pairing Beschorneria in the garden on our advice sheet!