Through the years, we have grown 21 of the 35 North American native species of bear grass species. Nolinas currently reside in the Asparagaceae family, with the likes of
Agave, Dasylrion, Yucca, and of course, Asparagus. One Nolilna species we didn’t expect to be winter hardy is the Sonoran bear grass, Nolina matapensis. This very slow grower, eventually forms an impressive 15′ tall, trunked specimen, with long, glaucous leaves. If was discovered in Sonora, Mexico, and first collected in 1934, by by Stanford botanist Ira Wiggins, who subsequently named it.
Our 10 year old garden plant below, pictured this month, is still many years away from being large enough to produce the stunning 5′ spikes of white flowers in early spring. Most of the reports we’ve seen on-line, indicate winter hardiness to only 15 degrees F, but our plant has survived temperatures of 11F in two different years, with no ill effects.
I’m not terribly shocked by that hardiness. They grow fairly far north into Sonora and at high elevation. I think all Nolina are very under-utilized, especially the US natives microcarpa and erumpens. Maybe someday they’ll enjoy the ubiquity of Hesperaloe.
We agree!