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Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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Nolina parryi (Parry's beargrass)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Nolina parryi

Nolina parryi S. Watson

Parry's Beargrass, Bigelow Nolina, Parry's Bear-grass

Liliaceae (Lily Family)

Synonym(s): Nolina bigelovii var. parryi, Nolina bigelovii var. wolfii, Nolina parryi ssp. wolfii, Nolina wolfii

USDA Symbol: NOPA

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A very dense cluster of tiny, whitish flowers grows from a rosette of many long leaves atop a short trunk-like stem. Parry’s Bear-grass is a yucca-like plant, with large, woody, basal stems growing in a clump. The thick, gray-green, course-bladed leaves are 18-30 in. long. They surround a 3-5 ft. flowering stem. The densely flowered inflorescence is quite showy, bearing cream-colored flowers.

This is one of the largest and showiest of the 25 species in this Southwestern genus. Many are much smaller, resembling thick tufts of coarse grass on dry hillsides, and are often called Sacahuista (pronounced sac-ah-wee'-stah), an Aztec (Nahuatl) name meaning "thorn grass". The leaves were woven into baskets or mats, and the young stems were prepared as food. Parry's Beargrass is another common name for this species.

 

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Flower scape up to about 5 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA
Native Distribution: W. AZ, s. CA & Baja CA
Native Habitat: Dry slopes below 3000 ft.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Rocky soils.
Conditions Comments: Drought tolerant.

Propagation

Description: Take individual offshoots from mature plants in winter. Plant seeds in cold frame or greenhouse in late January (cool weather). Seedlings do best if transplanted into 4-6 inch pots and given light shade the first season.
Seed Collection: Collect seeds when pod or capsule begins to dry. Spread seeds in thin layer and dry at room temperature. Store in sealed, refrigerated containers from up to one year.
Seed Treatment: No treatment is necessary.
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA

Bibliography

Bibref 995 - Native Landscaping from El Paso to L.A. (2000) Wasowski, S. and A. Wasowski

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Nolina parryi in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Nolina parryi in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Nolina parryi

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-20
Research By: TWC Staff

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