Hesperoyucca whipplei

Hesperoyucca whipplei is plant with an identity crisis...at least according to a myriad of taxonomists who've tossed it around like the proverbial hot potato...currently viewed as a cousin of the more popular yucca. Hesperoyucca is the gunnera of the Southwest. Despite being difficult to grow outside of its native range, due to it's dislike of water and need for perfect drainage, the mystique of its stunning beauty causes gardeners to go through extraordinary means to try to keep it alive. The stiff narrow blue-green leaves make a perfectly symmetrical deer-resistant clump to 3' tall x 4' wide. The remarkable flowering event is rumored to take 50 years. When it's time for the blessed event, expect a 13' tall flower spike that expands at more than 1' per day. When the flowers open, expect 600+ white bells on a huge multi-branched inflorescence...then it dies. Who says that Mother Nature doesn't have a sense of humor?