Giant Hesperaloe. Hesperaloe funifera, Agave Family ( Agaveae or Agavaceae ), Giant Hesperaloe. Also called: New Mexico False Yucca, Giant Yucca, Coahuilan Hesperaloe, or Samandoque. We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We share images and information with Wikipedia. Hesperaloe funifera is an acaulescent perennial with a rosette habit. It is the largest of the Hesperaloes, a genus closely related to Yucca, it forms a massive, upright, rosette of heavy, stiff, yellow - green leaves and they form a plant that can reach a diameter and height of nearly 6 feet. It is still not commonly in cultivation. It prefers a sunny location in well drained soil and can take drought as well as freezing conditions. The strong fibers H. funifera are used in Northern Mexico for cord products. Recent interest in the Hesperaloe species is focused on the potential use of the fibers for paper. Quick Notes: Height: 6 feet tall. It spreads to about 6 feet. Flowers: A large stalk emerges from the center of the plant, it becomes 12 to 15 feet tall. Then cream - white flowers emerge from the spike in the summer, the flowers are campanulate with erect, greenish-white tepals about 3/4 inch long. Flowering Time: Phoenix Arizona, Mid April - May. Leaves: The leaves are stiff, broad, light green leaves with coarse white fibers along their margins. They are narrowly lanceolate, rigid, marginally filiferous, 3 - 6 feet long, 3/4 - 1 1/2 inches wide, thick at the base, and tapered toward the apex. Trunk: Normally up to 18 - 24 inches in diameter. Bark: Thin, reddish brown to dark gray and smooth. Fruit & Seeds: The fruits, round or oblong blue fruits that are about 1/2 inch in diameter. Found: Native to the Northern Mexico states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and San Luis Potosi. The USDA says it is also native of the USA (TX). USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 �C (0 �F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 �C (5 �F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 �C (10 �F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 �C (15 �F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 �C (20 �F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 �C (30 �F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 �C (35 �F) Soil pH requirements: 5.6 to 6.0 (acidic) 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) 7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline) Sun Exposure: Full Sun Elevation: Said to grow from 0 - 7,600 Feet. In Arizona. But, we do not think it will survive over about 3,500 feet. We have found it can not take temperatures below 15 �F very well. Habitat: It grows well in sand, sandy loam, clay and other heavy soils. It needs good drainage and aeration. It is tolerant of alkali. Miscellaneous: Maintenance: Low. Photos Courtesy of Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.