Hardiness zones
Sunset 10-13
USDA 8-11

Landscape Use: Strong landscape accent plant for xeric landscape themes.

Form & Character: Upright, stiffly pendant, arborescent, yucca like.

Growth Habit: Evergreen, densely fibrous, narrowleaf perennial monocot, moderately upright to 25-feet tall with a tufted 4- to 5-feet wide foliar canopy at and near the terminus, will become openly arborescent with age.

Foliage/Texture: Elongated, dull green strap-like foliage, very finely serrulate, 1.5- to 2-inches wide by 4- to 5-feet long; medium fine texture.

Special warning: Similar to other species of Nolina, tree beargrass can inflict major deep paper cuts if mishandled!

Flowers & Fruits: Paniculate, small yellowish white flowers on a large 6- to 10-feet tall panicled stalks; fruits 3 lobed and somewhat inflated.

Seasonal Color: Summer flowers when plants mature.

Temperature: Heat tolerant to 115^oF, cold hardy to 25^oF.

Light: Full sun

Soil: Lke all Nolina species, a WELL-DRAINED soil is required.

Watering: Some deep and infrequent water is needed during summer if this plant is being grown in lower desert landscapes. No water other than rainfall is needed in winter.

Pruning: Remove any dead or dying foliage to give tree beargrass that clean, urban 'pineappled' haircut, lest tree beargrass look like a scruffy Ewok from Star Wars.

Propagation: Seed, cold stratification quickens germination. Very slow to establish in the landscape.

Disease and Pests: Fungal root rot common in chronically damp soils, deer resistant.

Additional comments: Tree beargrass grows well in Phoenix, but not as well as blue nolina. It's typical to see tree beargrass with marginal leaf tip tatter due to local saline irrigation water and high rates of leaf transpiration. Tree beargrass is one of the largest nolinas. Its local nursery availability is limited.