About Dasylirion longissimum Lem.
This evergreen, trunk-forming shrub grows at a slow to moderate rate. It typically reaches 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 m) in both height and width, and can grow as large as 12 feet (3.7 m) tall by 8 feet (2.4 m) in diameter. Its long, blade-shaped leaves grow up to 4 feet (1.2 m) long and 0.24 inches (6 mm) across. This drought-tolerant, visually striking Dasylirion is cultivated by nurseries for use in private gardens and public or corporate xeric landscapes, primarily in the Southwestern United States, ranging from Texas west to California. It is valued for its soft, billowing, Agave-like form that it displays early in growth: young plants resemble an agave with many thin leaves. As the plant matures, it develops a small stalk or trunk at its base, with all foliage emerging from the top of the trunk. D. longissimum is naturally hardy to 15 °F (−9 °C).
