Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2001 12:06:28 -0700
From: Sheri Williamson <tzunun@MINDSPRING.COM>
To: HUMNET-L@listserv.lsu.edu
Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L] Red Yucca

Susie Braman" <SBNuthatch@AOL.COM> wrote:

> Finally I picked up a Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora). Does anyone have
> experience with this plant? The picture reminded me of an aloe type plant
I
> saw in Arizona earlier this year. It had orange-yellow bulb type flowers
> which the hummers frequented.

Hi, Susie. I've got several Red Yuccas, and though I wouldn't call them an
outstanding hummingbird attractant, they're handsome, have a potentially
long bloom period, and the birds do use them. Clusters of 3 to 5 plants tend
to be more attractive than singles to both humans and hummingbirds as each
plant has relatively few bloom open at a time (mature plants tend to produce
more flower stalks and individual blossoms). This species is a true desert
dweller and may be inclined to rot in really wet areas, but if you plant
them in a dry spot, maybe even raised a bit above ground level, and give
them some lime if your soil is really acidic they should do okay.

Sheri Williamson
Bisbee, AZ
tzunun@mindspring.com

=====================

Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2002 17:51:41 -0500
Reply-To: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast <HUMNET-L@LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>
From: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast <HUMNET-L@LISTSERV.LSU.EDU>
Subject: Re: [HUMNET-L] Hesperaloe parviflora
To: HUMNET-L@LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Bcc: najames@lsu.edu

Cindy, Arlene, Rob,

"It is a rare sort of Yucca (at least that's what the
tag said when we bought it)."

So much for nursery tags. Hesperaloe parviflora is not a yucca, nor is it
rare. Although this plant is southwestern in origin (and native to Texas),
I've read that it's grown in landscapes in many parts of the world. Two
other less common Hesperaloes are H. funifera and H. campanulata. Here in
Texas H. parviflora is sold at Lowes, Home Depot and almost every other
nursery by the truckload. In the medium strip of Central Expressway (I-75)
that runs through Dallas there are hundreds of H. parviflora planted.
They've been blooming since March. I don't think these plants are cared for
in any way which says a lot about its toughness. The photograph Cindy
refers to on gardenweb is indeed H. parviflora. Along with the flowers, the
seed pod is a dead giveaway.

Howard Williams
Dallas, Texas