GV?Gardeners: Is bear grass really grass?

It appears to be a huge clump of grass. Its leaves resemble wide, long, tough blades of grass. Find it in reference books under the name of “bear grass.” However, the fact is that this desert plant is Nolina microcarpa, and is not grass at all, but a member of the large Agave family.

Arizona native bear grass is found throughout the central and southern portions of the state, as well as southern New Mexico, western Texas, and the Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua. This plant is best described as a stemless species forming large clumps of coarse grasslike leaves.

The leaves are 2 to 4 feet long, arching gracefully from the plant center. Edges are sharp and finely toothed. The leaf ends split into a frayed brushlike tip. In summer, a towering bloom stalk is produced which can reach up to 8 feet tall. Although in the agave family, nolinas do not die after blooming. The flower is a creamy white, often bending plume adding another 2 to 3 feet above the stalk. Obviously, this is not an ideal choice for small spaces!

Nolina is evergreen and adds year-round grace to the landscape.

Related to desert spoon and ponytail palm, its form resembles that of a flowing fountain, with leaves emanating from the basal rosette. The plants add a softer looking form to areas planted with cacti and agaves.

These plants are very heat- and drought-tolerant. Originating on rocky slopes and bare mountainsides, they also are cold hardy down to at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit. They do not need supplemental fertilizer. In the heat of summer, water once a month. In winter, rely on rainfall.

Beargrass can be planted in fall or spring in full sun. It does not tolerate poorly drained soil, which can easily encourage root or crown rots. They are not susceptible to other diseases nor to pests. About the only maintenance required is removing the spent flower stalks, because they rarely come down on their own. There may occasionally be dead leaves which can be removed by cutting back to the base. Do not shear as you would grass!

Besides the more common beargrass, there are some other native nolinas worth mentioning. Desert nolina (Nolina bigelovii), the most drought hardy of all nolinas, has a short trunk and broader leaves. Another is Sonoran tree bear grass (N. matapensis) with a defined trunk and broad, dark green leaves.

A favorite nolina for its showy color is blue nolina (N. nelsoni). When mature, this one has a 4-foot tall trunk, giving it more of a tree-like appearance. Examples of nolinas can be seen growing at the Arid Garden, located off Camino Encanto in the Desert Hills area.

In past weeks, this column has discussed a “desert rose” that is not really a rose… sago palm that isn’t even in the palm family… poinsettia “flowers” that are actually modified leaves… and now a native “grass” that is not a grass at all. Whoever hinted that gardening is boring!

Mary Kidnocker is a Master Gardener who writes frequently about the subject from a local perspective. Her columns are featured each Sunday. She is currently president of the Green Valley Gardeners.