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Shrubs

Dasylirion serratifolium

sandpaper sotol

A shrub up to 1.5m high with a very short stem topped by narrow blue-green leaves, about 1m long and 1.5-3cm wide, which have tufted ends and sharply serrated edges, and white flowers in summer, followed by small rounded winged fruits

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Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Asparagaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Tufted
Genus: Dasylirion are dioecious evergreen shrubs or trees with thick stems bearing terminal rosettes of narrow, spiny-edged leaves; tiny star-shaped flowers are borne in long panicles in summer, on mature plants
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Mexico

How to grow

Cultivation

In frost-prone areas, grow in full light in a greenhouse or conservatory with low humidity in a mix of 2:2:1:1 loam:sand:leaf mould:peat-free compost, water freely and fertilize once a month from early spring to autumn, move plants in pots outside during the summer, and water sparingly in winter; in frost-free areas, grow in a hot, sheltered site in full sun in dry, well-drained soil

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown at 21°C in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Patio and container plants
Sub-tropical
Wall side borders

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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