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Common Name:

General Information

Hesperaloe nocturna is a Evergreen Perennial up to 1.80 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

N. America - north-eastern Mexico.

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Habit	Evergreen Perennial
Height	1.80 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a warm, sheltered sunny position in a well-drained soil[]. Plants do not like wet conditions, especially in the winter[].
Plants grow for several years before flowering but, unlike the related agaves and yuccas, the plants do not die after flowering.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The plant produces strong fibres that can be used in making cordage products[]. The fibres produce a paper with exceptional tensile and tear strength. Such fibres could be used either in speciality papers with high-strength requirements, such as currency papers, bible papers, tea bags, and filters, or they could be blended with other fibres to increase the strength and improve the texture of a variety of paper products, including writing papers, tissue and towel products, and papers manufactured using secondary (recycled) fibre[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. Pre-soaking the seed for 24 hours in warm water may reduce the germination time. It usually germinates within 1 - 12 months if kept at a temperature of 20°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse or cold frame for at least their first two winters. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer and consider giving them some winter protection for at least their first winter outdoors - a simple pane of glass is usually sufficient[].