Nolina microcarpa

Common Names

Sacahuista, Beargrass, Bear Grass, Bear-Grass, Palmilla

Summary

Beargrass, also called sacahuista, is an evergreen perennial forming acaulescent rosettes from a large underground caudex, producing dense clumps up to about 2 m in diameter. Leaves are long and slender, green, 60–130 cm long and 5–12 mm wide with serrulate margins and leaf tips that fray into ornamental white curlicues; white flowers rise in a tall panicle on a scape up to about 1.5 m tall, with panicles 4–12 dm long and 10–30 cm wide, native to rocky hillsides, desert grasslands, and oak–pinyon–juniper woodlands at 900–1900 m in AZ, NM, and northern Mexico.

In cultivation, it prefers full sun to part shade and coarse, well-drained soils; very drought-tolerant after establishment and requires infrequent watering; hardy to about -15°F (USDA zones 5a–10); ideal for xeric landscapes, borders, containers, and naturalistic plantings; propagates by seeds or vegetative caudex sprouting. Ethnobotany notes include uses for basketry and weaving; stalks eaten; seeds milled into flour; roots used as soap; flowers attract hummingbirds and deer tend to avoid.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

4-6 feet

Spread

4-6 ft

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun, or partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained soil

Soil Drainage

Well-drained

Soil pH

Neutral to basic

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow growing

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division (offshoots), Underground shoots, Caudex sprouting after fire

Attracts Wildlife

Bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds are attracted