#beschorneria

[ruthbancroftgarden]

Beschorneria yuccoides 'Flamingo Glow'

The genus Beschorneria is related to Agave and to Yucca, and these are now placed in the subfamily Agavoideae within the Asparagus Family. Beschoneria species occur in Mexico and Central America, and mostly they are found in forested places up in the mountains. Their leaves are like those of some yuccas, but generally they are soft and pliable rather than rigid. The dangling tubular flowers, often featuring reds and greens, are truly wonderful. This one is 'Flamingo Glow', a variegated cultivar of B. yuccoides.

-Brian

[morphons]

Beschorneria septentrionalis. April 2022. 

[jillraggett]

Plant of the Day

Wednesday 22 May 2019

For some late spring or early summer drama you could grow the hardy Mexican, clump-forming evergreen perennial Beschorneria yuccoides (yucca-leaved beschorneria). This plant forms a large rosette of grey-green leaves and from these emerge large flower stalks with conspicuous red bracts housing yellow-green tubular flowers. The ideal growing conditions are a sunny site with a well-drained soil.

Jill Raggett

[ruthbancroftgarden]

Beschorneria rigida

The genus Beschorneria is part of the Agave Family (sometimes treated as a subfamily within the Asparagus Family), with all of the species found in Mexico and southward into Guatemala and Honduras. Beschorneria rigida is one of the smaller species, and without flowers it might be mistaken for a Kniphofia. But its red stalk and dangling red-and-green flowers show that it is definitely a Beschorneria. It is native to the Sierra Madre Oriental in east-central Mexico.

-Brian

[ruthbancroftgarden]

Beschorneria septentrionalis

Beschorneria is a small Mexican genus related to Agave, with plants typically fond in the mountains in forested areas, rather than in the drier lowlands. The most commonly grown species is Beschorneria yuccoides, but B. septentrionalis is a smaller plant with vivid green leaves, rather than glaucous-green like B. yuccoides. The flower stalk of B. septentrionalis is also a brighter red, and it remains attractive all the way through to the end of the summer as the large fruits develop. It does well in semi-shade (or in full sun in cooler coastal climates), and it is quite cold-tolerant to as low as 10° F (-12° C).

-Brian

[ruthbancroftgarden]

Beschorneria yuccoides

The genus Beschorneria is related to Agave and Yucca (all are members of the Agavaceae, or Agave Family - though newer classifications would make this a subfamily, Agavoideae, within the Asparagus Family). However, the leaves of Beschorneria are pliable rather than rigid, and these plants generally grow up in the mountains where it is not so dry. Still, they are reasonably drought-tolerant and make fine garden specimens. Their flower stalks are especially dramatic, often colored pink or red, and bearing bell-like pendulous flowers which are usually red and green - in this case, with some pale yellow thrown in for good measure. Native to the Mexican states of Hidalgo, Puebla and Veracruz.

-Brian

[morphons]

Beschorneria tubiflora. Cambridge University Botanic Garden, April 2019.

[morphons]

Beschorneria yuccoides. Tresco Abbey Gardens, May 2018.