Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Nolina bigelovii, Bigelow's nolina or beargrass, is a flowering monocot plant in the Ruscaceae (Butcher's-broom) family that is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It grows in the driest desert areas and at elevations up to 1500 meters, primarily in the Mojave Desert. The genus Nolina has undergone several taxonomic changes. Despite its appearance and common name of Beargrass, it is not a grass. Both the foliage and flowers resemble Yuccas which are in a different family. It was previously grouped in the Liliaceae (Lily) family. The trunklike stem may exceed 2 meters in height, part of which may be underground. In maturity it may branch. The stiff, shreddy leaves are arranged in rosettes about the stem, with up to 150 per rosette. The bases are thick and fleshy and much wider than the rest of the blade. The treelike flower cluster may approach 4 meters in height. The tiny flowers each have six whitish petals a few millimeters in length.

Plant type

Perennial herb, Succulent

Size

4 - 8 ft Tall
4 ft Wide

Form

Fountain

Growth rate

Slow

Dormancy

Evergreen

Calscape icon
Color

White

Flowering season

Spring

Special uses

Groundcover, Deer resistant

Sun

Full Sun

Water

Low, Very Low

Summer irrigation

Max 1x / month once established

Ease of care

Moderate

Cold tolerance

Tolerates cold to 0° F

Soil drainage

Fast

Soil description

Typically coarse, fast draining decomposed granite.
Soil PH: 6.0 - 8.0

Maintenance

Dried leaves can be removed at any time for a neater appearance

Propagation

For propagating by seed: No treatment.

Sunset Zones

2, 3, 7*, 8, 9, 10*, 11, 12, 13, 14*, 15, 16, 18*, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*

Site type

Slopes and ridges of the Mojave Desert, often among granite boulders

Plant communities

Creosote Bush Scrub

Use with other attractive desert plants such as Desert Agave (Agave deserti), Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), Desert Lavender (Condea emoryi), Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa), Apache Plume (Fallugia paradoxa), Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), Penstemon spp., Chuparosa (Justicia californica), Smoketree (Psorothamnus spinosus), Apricot Mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), and various cactus and succulent species

Caterpillars
Butterflies

Butterflies and moths supported

0 confirmed and 1 likely

Confirmed Likely

Gray Hairstreak

Strymon melinus