Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Little Giant Hesperaloe
Little Giant is a compact hesperaloe bred in southern Arizona from giant hesperaloe and red yucca. It forms a dense clump of narrow, deep green leaves edged with fine white threads, about 3 to 4 feet tall. From spring through summer it sends up tall stalks of pink flowers that hummingbirds visit. It gives the upright look of giant hesperaloe in about half the space, on low water once rooted.
Best for: courtyards and entries, streetside beds and medians, large patio containers, and hummingbird gardens where giant hesperaloe would be too big.
It is denser and more compact than giant hesperaloe, so it fits courtyards and front entries where the big one would crowd the space. The upright clump reads as a strong accent.
Growers use it along streets and in medians, where it takes full sun on deep, infrequent water once rooted.
It works in large containers on patios. Use a pot with a drainage hole and fast-draining mix, and water when the mix dries out.
It needs full sun to flower well. Soil that stays wet can rot the roots, and young plants can need a wire cage if rabbits or javelina visit your yard.
- Group or row4 ft apart
- Wider row6 ft apart
Water regularly during the first growing season so the roots take hold. Let the soil dry between waterings so it does not stay wet.
Once rooted it is a low-water plant. Give it deep, infrequent soaks, mostly in the hot, dry months, and let rain carry it the rest of the year.
Cut each spent flower stalk at the base once it finishes. Pull out old dead leaves by hand, and never shear the clump.
Rabbits can eat the leaves of young hesperaloes, and javelina can dig them up. A wire cage around a new plant for its first year keeps it safe.
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.
How big does Little Giant hesperaloe get?
The leaves form a clump about 3 to 4 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide. The pink flower stalks rise well above that. Give it room for that width when you plant.
How is Little Giant different from giant hesperaloe?
It is a cross of giant hesperaloe and red yucca that stays about half the size. It keeps the upright, fiber-edged leaves but is denser, and the flowers are pink instead of creamy white.
What color are the flowers?
Pink, with a creamy tint, on tall stalks. It blooms from spring through summer, and each stalk can be cut at the base once it finishes.
Does Little Giant attract hummingbirds?
Yes. Hummingbirds visit the tubular flowers, and bees and butterflies come too. Plant it where you can watch it from a window or patio.
How often should I water Little Giant?
Water regularly while it roots in. After that it is a low-water plant, so give it deep, infrequent soaks, mostly in the hot, dry months.
What soil does it need?
Soil that drains well, such as sandy soil or decomposed granite. Heavy soil that stays wet can rot the roots, so avoid low spots where water sits.
How cold hardy is Little Giant?
It is hardy to about -10°F. A Valley winter will not hurt it, so it needs no frost cover.
Can I grow Little Giant in a pot?
Yes, it works in large patio containers. Use a pot with a drainage hole and water when the mix dries, more often in summer.
How do I trim Little Giant?
Cut spent flower stalks at the base and pull out old dead leaves by hand. Do not shear the leaves, since that ruins the shape.
Little Giant Hesperaloe for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Little Giant is a compact cross of giant hesperaloe and red yucca, bred in southern Arizona. It keeps the upright, fiber-edged leaves of giant hesperaloe in a 3 to 4 foot clump and blooms pink from spring through summer. Below: size, bloom, water, soil, cold and where it fits in a Valley yard.
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.
What is Little Giant hesperaloe?
Little Giant is a cross of giant hesperaloe and red yucca, bred in southern Arizona. It grows a dense, upright clump of narrow green leaves with fine white threads along the edges, about 3 to 4 feet tall.
Little Giant vs giant hesperaloe
Giant hesperaloe grows much larger with creamy white flowers. Little Giant stays about half the size, is denser, and blooms pink, which makes it easier to fit into smaller spaces.
When does Little Giant bloom in Arizona?
It flowers from spring through summer on tall pink stalks. Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies visit the whole time. Cut each stalk at the base once it is done.
How often to water Little Giant hesperaloe
Water regularly while it roots in. Once rooted it is a low-water plant that does well with deep, infrequent soaks, mostly in summer.
Where to plant Little Giant
It fits courtyards, entries, streetside beds, medians and large patio containers. Give it full sun and well-drained soil such as sandy soil or decomposed granite.
Is Little Giant cold hardy?
Yes. It is hardy to about -10°F, so a Valley winter is no problem and it needs no frost cover.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.