COLD HARDY PLANTS
Growers and Breeders of Unusual Cold Hardy Plants
 

Dasylirion wheeleri 
Quantity of plants tested: 9
Size of plant tested: 1st year seedlings which were started from seed in May 2000.
Soil texture: eight were planted in sandy loam with no cover, and one was planted in a loamy sand covered with peastone granite.
When planted: the plants were planted in the ground in June 2000.
Winter protection: none
Microclimate: 1 was in a warm microclimate, approximately 4 feet off a south facing wall, while the other eight were planted in a cold microclimate which received no winter sun from November through early February.
Temperature: refer to 2000-2001 winter on this chart
Findings: seven of the eight plants died in the cold microclimate area, and the other one planted in the warm microclimate area survived.
dasylirion_wheeleri.jpg (78081 bytes) September 4, 2000 - This photo shows the size of the plants as of September 4,  2000.  These are first year seedlings which were started in May 2000.
dasylirion_wheeleri_2.jpg (78377 bytes) February 4, 2001 - here's one of the plants in the cold microclimate area as of February 4,  2001.  Although it's hard to tell, most of the leaves are some what burnt.  The plants were buried in snow from December 30 through January 31.  The minimum temperature so far without snow cover has been 5F.  December 25th was a cold day with highs only in the low teens.
dasylirion_wheeleri_3.jpg (34717 bytes) February 18, 2001 - here's the status of one of the plants in the cold microclimate area.  They don't appear to be doing that well, note the yellow near the stem area.
dasylirion_wheeleri_4.jpg (54298 bytes) April 4, 2001 - this photo shows the plant in the warm microclimate area as of April 4, 2001. It performed very well and started to grow shortly after this photo, although very slow.
dasylirion_wheeleri_5.jpg (109805 bytes) April 4, 2001 - this photo shows two of the plants in the cold microclimate area as of April 4, 2001. All died in this area but one.
dasylirion_wheeleri_2001_oct1.jpg (101111 bytes) October 1, 2001 - here's a photo showing the status of the Dasylirion which survived last winter in the cold microclimate area.  It did not grow as much as the one located in the warm microclimate area.
dasylirion_wheeleri_2001_dec1.jpg (83646 bytes) December 1, 2001 - here's a photo showing the survivor from the warm microclimate area.  Notice the difference in size between the photo above and this one.
dasylirion wheeleri teeth 2002 sept28 r.jpg (66570 bytes) September 28, 2002 - here's the leaves on the plant a year later.............. yeah right!  This is another mature specimen.  Notice the large teeth which point towards the leaf tip.
dasylirion_potted_2002_sept7.jpg (70864 bytes) September  2002 - here's a comparison of two Dasylirion species.
dasylirion_wheeleri_2002_oct27r.jpg (72976 bytes) October 27, 2002 - here's the same plant a year later.
dasylirion_wheeleri_2003_mar8r.jpg (68999 bytes) March 8, 2003 - here's a photo showing the Dasylirion (left center of photo) sitting in a couple inches of water.  The ground is still frozen and the snow melt water cannot seep into the ground.  This is why raised beds are strongly recommended.



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