Nolina bigelovii (28/09/2014, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Full sun
Flowering period: Summer
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 1.5m
Eventual Spread: 1.5m
Hardiness: 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11
Family: Asparagaceae
Nolina bigelovii is an evergreen shrub with a clump forming habit. Its dark green leaves are strap shaped with entire fibrous margins, up to 1.5m long, 4cm across and arranged in a rosette around the stem. Its may form a trunk like stem which may be up to 2m long. Its white/ green flowers are up to 4mm across and arranged as a terminal panicle on a flowering stem which may be open up to 4m long. Its fruit is a spherical capsule and up to 12mm across.
Nolina bigelovii Flower (28/09/2014, Kew Gardens, London)
Nolina bigelovii, commonly known as Bear Grass or Bigelow’s Nolina, is native to south wets USA and north west Mexico. In its native habitat it grows in dry desert areas.
The etymological root of the binomial name Nolina is derived from the Latin nola meaning ‘bell’. Bigelovii is named after John Milton Bigelow (1804–1878), a US surgeon and botanist.
The landscape architect may find Nolina bigelovii useful in xeriscaping landscape schemes. Once established the plant is extremely drought tolerant.
Nolina bigelovii Leaf (28/09/2014, Kew Gardens, London)
Ecologically, Nolina bigelovii flowers are attractive to pollinating insects.
Nolina bigelovii prefers dry, well-drained soils. It prefers a neutral to alkali pH of soil. This plant dislikes wet soils.
Nolina bigelovii requires little maintenance.
