• Photo of Nolina nelsonii (Nolina nelsoniis)

Plant Profile: Nolina nelsonii

Names

Blue Nolina, Nelson's Beargrass, Nelson's Blue Beargrass

  • Photo of Nolina nelsonii (Nolina nelsoniis)

Phonetic Spelling:no-LEE-na nel-SON-ee-eye

Genus:Nolina

Species:nelsonii

Family:Asparagaceae

Blue Nolina is a sizable, tree-like shrub with a striking blue-green hue, belonging to the asparagus family. This succulent is characterized by its slow growth and remarkable resilience to both drought and high temperatures. For optimal growth, it should be planted in full sunlight and in soil that drains well. After it blooms, the main plant will die back, giving rise to a new plant at the base of the rosette. Its rugged texture contributes significantly to the visual appeal of a landscape designed for low water consumption.

Nolina nelsonii Feature Summary

Nolina nelsonii Image Gallery

Tags

#fragrant flowers
#heat tolerant
#drought tolerant
#specimen
#white flowers
#silver leaves
#slow growing
#spring flowers
#accent plant
#deer resistant
#blue-green leaves
#coarse

Similar Plants

Nolina nelsonii Feature Summary

Flowers
Small white slightly fragrant flowers appear in mass in spring on a 4' tall stalk.
Leaves
Silvery blue-green 1" wide by 3' long strappy with finely toothed margins
Green
Gray/Silver
Blue
> 6 inches
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Succulent
Coarse
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Occasionally Dry
Very Dry
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Mass Planting
Accent
Small groups
Specimen
Security
Drought
Deer
Heat
Dry Soil

Nolina nelsonii Attributes

Nolina nelsonii: Country Or Region Of Origin

Mexico

Nolina nelsonii: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Nolina nelsonii Flowers

Nolina nelsonii: Flower Description

Small white slightly fragrant flowers appear in mass in spring on a 4' tall stalk.

Nolina nelsonii: Flower Color

filter_vintage
White

Nolina nelsonii: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Nolina nelsonii: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Nolina nelsonii Leaves

Nolina nelsonii: Leaf Description

Silvery blue-green 1" wide by 3' long strappy with finely toothed margins

Nolina nelsonii: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Nolina nelsonii: Leaf Color

spa
Blue
spa
Gray/Silver
spa
Green

Nolina nelsonii: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Nolina nelsonii: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Nolina nelsonii: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Nolina nelsonii: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Nolina nelsonii: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Nolina nelsonii: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Nolina nelsonii: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Nolina nelsonii Whole Plant Traits

Nolina nelsonii: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Nolina nelsonii: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Nolina nelsonii: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Nolina nelsonii: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Nolina nelsonii Cultural Conditions

Nolina nelsonii: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Nolina nelsonii: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Nolina nelsonii: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Nolina nelsonii Stem

Nolina nelsonii: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Nolina nelsonii Landscape

Nolina nelsonii: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Nolina nelsonii: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Nolina nelsonii: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind