Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Shrub
  
Cactus or Succulent
  
Origin
Southwestern United States, Mexico
  
North America, Southwestern United States, Mexico
  
Types
Common sotol, Bear Grass, Common Sotol, Desert Spoon
  
Echinocactus parryi, Echinocactus texensis
  
Habitat
Desert, Lower slopes
  
Desert, Gravels, Sandy areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
12-15
  
9-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
  
12-10
  
Sunset Zone
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
12, 13, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Rosette/Stemless
  
Oval or Rounded
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Yellow
  
Yellow, Magenta
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Yellow
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Blue Green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Rosette
  
Succulent
  
Thorns
Yes
  
Yes
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Slow
  
Slow
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Spring
  
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought, Heat Tolerance, Shade areas
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Needs very little water
  
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires watering in the growing season, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
fertilize in summer, Potassium
  
Pests and Diseases
Not Available
  
Mealybugs, Spider mites
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought, Full Sun, Heat Tolerance, Shade areas
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Not Available
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Not Available
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Hummingbirds
  
Insects, Mealybugs, Spider Mites
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Skin cuts
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Available
  
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
No Beauty Benefits
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Food for insects, Very little waste
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Not Available
  
No Medicinal Use
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves
  
Whole plant
  
Other Uses
Paper pulp, Pulp can be used to make rope place mats and other goods
  
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Dried Flower, Everlasting, Feature Plant, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
  
Container, Houseplant, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Botanical Name
DASYLIRION texanum
  
ECHINOCACTUS
  
Common Name
Common sotol, Bear Grass, Common Sotol, Desert Spoon
  
Golden barrel cactus, Golden ball
  
In Hindi
sotol
  
echinocactus
  
In German
Dasylirion texanum
  
echinocactus
  
In French
sotol
  
echinocactus
  
In Spanish
sotol
  
echinocactus
  
In Greek
sotol
  
Echinocactus
  
In Portuguese
sotol
  
Echinocactus
  
In Polish
sotol
  
Echinocactus
  
In Latin
sotol
  
Echinocactus
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Tracheophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Liliales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Liliaceae
  
Cactaceae
  
Genus
Dasylirion
  
Echinocactus
  
Clade
Monocots
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Cacteae
  
Subfamily
Nolinoideae
  
Cactoideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available