Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Desert Spoon
Desert Spoon is an Arizona native that forms a dense, round rosette of narrow silver-blue leaves, about 4 to 6 feet tall and wide. Over the years it builds a short trunk, and mature plants send up flower stalks 10 to 15 feet tall with cream flowers that bees visit. It takes full sun and reflected heat, gets by on very little water, and never needs shaping. It is a long-lived accent for desert yards.
Best for: a round silver-blue accent in desert yards, hot spots with reflected heat, native plantings with bees in mind, and low-care beds away from walkways.
The dense rosette of silver-blue leaves stays about 4 to 6 feet across and keeps its shape without trimming. It works as a specimen or accent plant in a desert yard.
It thrives in full sun and reflected heat, so it holds up where heat bounces off walls and paving. Once rooted, it needs a deep soak only every 2 to 4 weeks in summer.
It grows wild in southern Arizona and mixes well with other Sonoran Desert natives. Mature plants send up 10 to 15 foot stalks of cream flowers that draw bees.
The leaf edges carry small hooked teeth that can cut skin and catch clothing. Keep it away from walkways, and plant it where water drains, since wet soil can rot the roots.
- Group or mass planting4 ft apart, center to center
- Wider planting6 ft apart, center to center
Once rooted, give it a deep soak every 2 to 4 weeks in summer. Give little or no water in winter.
It never needs shaping, so do not shear it. Leave old dead leaves as a shaggy skirt or remove them. Cut off spent flower stalks.
The leaf edges have small hooked teeth that cut skin. Wear gloves and long sleeves when you plant or clean it.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
Why is it called Desert Spoon?
Each leaf widens at the base into a broad, spoon-like shape, which gives the plant its name.
How big does Desert Spoon get?
The rosette grows about 4 to 6 feet tall and wide, with flower stalks rising 10 to 15 feet. Over many years it forms a short trunk.
How fast does Desert Spoon grow?
It grows slowly, and it is long-lived, so it will not outgrow its spot quickly.
How far apart should I plant Desert Spoon?
Plant them about 4 to 6 feet apart, center to center, well back from walkways. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your bed.
Are the leaves sharp?
Yes. The leaf edges carry small hooked teeth that can cut skin and grab clothing. Plant it where it can be seen but not brushed against.
When does Desert Spoon bloom?
It blooms from late spring to summer once the plant is about 7 to 10 years old. The cream flowers grow on stalks 10 to 15 feet tall. The plant does not die after blooming, so just cut the spent stalk off.
Why do some plants look different in bloom?
Desert Spoon has separate male and female plants, and each carries only one kind of flower. That is normal and needs no care.
How often should I water Desert Spoon?
Once rooted, a deep soak every 2 to 4 weeks in summer is plenty. Give little or no water in winter.
What soil does it need?
It needs soil that drains well, and native desert soil is fine. Roots can rot in soil that stays wet, so dig through any caliche layer so water drains.
How do I trim Desert Spoon?
It never needs shaping, and it should not be sheared. Old dead leaves can stay as a shaggy skirt or be removed. Cut off spent flower stalks.
How much cold and heat can it take?
It is rated hardy to about 0°F and thrives in full sun and reflected heat. It needs no frost cover and suits the hottest spots in a yard.
Does it attract wildlife?
Bees visit the flowers, and hummingbirds come to the flower stalks too. Rabbits tend to leave the plant alone.
Desert Spoon for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Desert Spoon, also called sotol, grows wild on rocky slopes in southern Arizona and neighboring states. It forms a round rosette of silver-blue leaves, takes full sun and reflected heat, and needs very little water once rooted. Below are the questions people ask most, from size, spacing and bloom to watering and trimming, plus how it compares with Green Desert Spoon.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Is Desert Spoon native to Arizona?
Yes. It grows wild on rocky slopes in southern Arizona at about 2,000 to 6,000 feet, and also in New Mexico, Texas and northern Mexico. It is also called sotol.
How big does Desert Spoon get in Phoenix?
The rosette reaches about 4 to 6 feet tall and wide. Flower stalks rise 10 to 15 feet. It grows slowly and forms a short trunk over many years.
How far apart do you plant Desert Spoon?
Plant them about 4 to 6 feet apart center to center. Keep them back from walkways, because the leaf edges have hooked teeth.
How often do you water Desert Spoon?
Once rooted, a deep soak every 2 to 4 weeks in summer keeps it looking good. Give little or no water in winter. Soil that drains well matters most.
Does Desert Spoon die after it blooms?
No. It keeps growing after it blooms. Plants start blooming at about 7 to 10 years old, with cream flowers on 10 to 15 foot stalks.
Desert Spoon vs Green Desert Spoon
Desert Spoon has silver-blue leaves and is rated hardy to about 0°F. Green Desert Spoon has bright green leaves with fiber tufts at the tips. Both have hooked teeth on the leaf edges.
What is sotol?
Sotol is a drink made from the heart of the plant. The tough leaf fibers were also used for baskets and mats.
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