• Image of Hesperaloe parviflora 'Arizona Sunrise' taken at Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC
    Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC
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Hesperaloe parviflora 'Arizona Sunrise'

Arizona Sunrise False Yucca

This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.

Shop Available Hesperaloe

Item #: 8144

Zones: 7a to 9b

Dormancy: Evergreen

Height: 48" tall

Culture: Sun

Origin: United States

Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)


Logo indicating plant is one of Plant Delights' Introductions

In 2007, a friend purchased a defunct West Coast Nursery, and we were able to pick up plants of Hesperaloe parviflora 'Arizona Sunrise' without any description or background. Fast-forward twelve years later, it has turned out to be the most amazing hesperaloe we grow. The upright 2' tall clumps of stiff green leaves are topped from early May (NC) through October with 4' tall spikes of buttery yellow flowers...a dramatic color break from the more typical peachy orange. It's taken us over a decade to have enough stock of Hesperaloe 'Arizona Sunrise' to offer, so it will be many years before we have more to share.

Maintenance:
Hesperaloe parviflora is a maintenance-free, evergreen perennial. Other than removing the old flower stalks and the occasional dead leaf, there is really nothing that needs to be done to keep it attractive and healthy. This is a perfectly friendly relative of Agave and Yucca that lacks spines and marginal teeth.

Old clumps can be divided and replanted. We have not found a time of year that doesn't work well.

Growing Conditions:
Hesperaloe parviflora enjoys full, hot, baking sun for 6+ hours. While they will survive in less light, you will probably never see flowers. Other than bright light, well-drained soils are also very important, since false red yucca detests waterlogged soils. It will tolerate a soil pH from slightly acidic to quite alkaline.

Nomenclature:
We were surprised to find that much of what is sold as Hesperaloe parviflora is actually not correctly named. Some is Hesperaloe chiangii, and quite a bit are actually hybrids.

Natural Impacts:
In the wild, hummingbirds are the sole pollinator of Hesperaloe parviflora. In gardens, however, they are also pollinated by bats, bees, and hawkmoths. The floral display goes on for many months adding color to the garden and supporting pollinators.