Great desert spoon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great desert spoon |
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Dasylirion acrotrichum, also known as the great desert spoon or green sotol, is a cool plant that grows in the deserts of Mexico. You might also hear it called "spoon yucca," but it's not a true Yucca plant. It's found mostly in the Chihuahuan Desert and other dry areas in northern and central Mexico.
What it Looks Like
This plant has long, thin leaves that can grow up to about 1 meter (40 inches) long. They are narrow, like grass blades, and spread out in a round shape called a rosette. The whole plant can grow quite large, up to 1.8 meters (6 feet) tall and wide.
The leaves grow from a central stem that can become a short, thick trunk over time. In the middle of summer, a tall flower stalk shoots up from the center. This stalk can be very impressive, reaching 1.8 to 4.5 meters (6 to 15 feet) high, covered in many small white flowers.
Growing This Plant
Dasylirion acrotrichum is a great plant for gardens, especially in dry places. It doesn't need much water because it's "drought-tolerant," meaning it can survive long periods without rain. Because of this, nurseries grow it for people who want to create "xeriscape" gardens. These are gardens designed to use very little water, which is good for the environment.
You'll often see this plant in gardens in the Southwestern United States and California. It's quite tough and can handle cold temperatures down to about -6 degrees Celsius (20 degrees Fahrenheit).
See also
In Spanish: Dasylirion acrotrichum para niños
