Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Stoplights Hesperaloe
Stoplights is a dwarf red yucca that forms a tight, upright clump of soft green leaves about 2 feet tall and wide. From spring through summer it sends up crimson red stalks about 3 feet long, lined with tubular flowers that hummingbirds visit. It handles heat and dry spells once rooted and needs very little care. Its small size suits mass plantings, borders and patio pots.
Best for: mass plantings and low borders, the edges of walks and drives, patio pots with a drainage hole, and small hummingbird beds in full sun.
Its 2 foot size makes it easy to plant in drifts and rows in water-wise beds. Allow at least 2 feet around each plant so the clumps keep their upright shape.
Set it 2 to 3 feet back from sidewalks and driveways. The leaves are soft, and the crimson stalks add color right where people walk by.
It grows well in a pot with fast-draining potting mix and a good drainage hole. Check the soil more often in summer, since pots dry out faster than the ground.
Soil that stays wet can rot the roots, so do not overwater it. In shade it flowers less, and young plants can need a wire cage against javelina and rabbits.
- Mass planting2 ft apart
- Row or border2-3 ft apart
Water regularly while it roots in, but never keep the soil soggy. Soil that stays wet can rot the roots.
After the first year it is drought tolerant. Water now and then, mostly in hot, dry summer weather, and let rain carry it the rest of the year.
Cut each spent flower stalk at the base. Pull out old dead leaves by hand and never shear the clump.
Javelina can dig up the roots and rabbits can chew young leaves. 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 Stoplights get?
It stays about 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide. The flower stalks reach about 3 feet long. Plan on a small, tight clump rather than a big spreading one.
How is Stoplights different from Brakelights?
Both are dwarf red yuccas about 2 feet tall. Stoplights has soft green leaves in an upright, vase shape, while Brakelights has blue-green leaves. Pick by the leaf color you want.
When does Stoplights bloom?
It blooms from spring through summer. Cut each stalk at the base once its flowers finish to keep the clump neat.
How far apart should I plant Stoplights?
Leave at least 2 feet around each plant, and keep it 2 to 3 feet back from sidewalks and driveways. The Spacing tab can help you count plants for a bed.
Does Stoplights attract hummingbirds?
Yes. Hummingbirds and other pollinators visit the tubular red flowers. Plant a few together for a bigger show.
How often should I water Stoplights?
Water regularly for the first year, but never to the point of soggy soil. After that, water now and then, mostly during hot, dry weather in summer.
Can I grow Stoplights in a pot?
Yes. Use a well-drained potting mix and a pot with at least one good drainage hole. Water when the mix dries out, more often in summer.
How do I trim Stoplights?
Cut spent flower stalks at the base and pull out old dead leaves, which come away easily. Do not shear the leaves, because it ruins the shape.
How cold hardy is Stoplights?
Growers list it hardy to between -10°F and -20°F. A Valley winter will not hurt it, so it needs no frost cover.
Will javelina or rabbits bother Stoplights?
Javelina can dig up red yucca for its roots, and rabbits can chew young plants. Cage new plants with wire for the first year if they visit your yard.
Is Stoplights messy?
No. It drops very little litter, so it stays neat along a walk, patio or pool.
Does Stoplights have sharp leaves?
No. The leaves have no spines or sharp tips, so it is safe to plant along walks and patios.
Stoplights Hesperaloe for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Stoplights (Hesperaloe parviflora 'Stoplights') is a dwarf form of red yucca with soft green leaves in an upright, vase-shaped clump. It stays about 2 feet tall and wide and blooms crimson red from spring through summer. Here is what to expect in a Valley yard, from spacing and water to trimming and cold.
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 Stoplights red yucca?
Stoplights is a dwarf form of red yucca. It grows soft green leaves in a tight, upright clump about 2 feet tall and wide, with crimson red flower stalks about 3 feet long.
Stoplights vs Brakelights hesperaloe
Both are compact red yuccas about 2 feet tall with red flowers. Stoplights has soft green leaves in a vase shape, and Brakelights has blue-green leaves. Care for both is the same.
How far apart to plant Stoplights
Leave at least 2 feet around each plant in a mass planting. Keep it 2 to 3 feet back from sidewalks and driveways. The Spacing tab on this page counts plants for your bed.
When does Stoplights bloom in Arizona?
It flowers from spring through summer. Hummingbirds visit the red tubular flowers while they are open.
Watering Stoplights in the Valley
Water regularly the first year without keeping the soil soggy. Once rooted it is drought tolerant, so water it now and then in hot, dry weather.
Stoplights in a pot
Its dwarf size fits a patio pot. Use a well-drained potting mix and a container with at least one drainage hole, and check it more often in summer.
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.