Outdoor Dream Builders

ROC #343460

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Grass Tree

Name: Grass Tree
Brand: Outdoor Dream Builders

Dasylirion quadrangulatum

A sculptural accent with twisting narrow leaves that cascade like a living fountain from atop a slender trunk.

Hardy to about 20°F, USDA 9-11; adaptable across low and mid desert.

AMWUA Notes

Low-water architectural accent with a fine, fountain-like evergreen form.

Care Guide

💧Watering

Water established plants monthly; deep, infrequent irrigation encourages a stronger trunk.

✂️Pruning

Remove dead or browned outer leaves at the base; no shaping needed—let the fountain form develop.

🌱Fertilizing

Not necessary; light spring feeding optional.

🛡️Pests

Largely pest-free and tough.

☀️Seasonal Notes

Frost-tolerant into the low 20s °F; evergreen, fine-textured and low-litter year-round.

Soil, Feeding & Propagation

🪨Soil

Fast-draining decomposed granite or gritty mineral soil; low organic matter

💧Drainage

Needs sharp, fast-draining soil.

🌱Nutrient Needs

Low feeder.

🌰Propagation

Seed

📐Spacing

4 ft

🌳Roots & Placement

Shallow, non-invasive roots; fine leaves are non-hazardous near paths

Placement Tips

•Use as a soft sculptural accent that reads like a fountain.
•The fine leaves are non-hazardous near paths.
•Give it 4 ft of room.
•Plant in fast-draining soil in full sun.

Features

Twisting narrow leavesSpherical grass-like crownArchitectural accentTrunk-forming

Best Uses

AccentContainerModern landscape

Companion Plants

accent

Native

Desert Spoon

Dasylirion wheeleri

An exceptional native specimen with a dense sphere of blue-gray leaves and a towering summer flower spike.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

accent

Native

Beargrass

Nolina microcarpa

A graceful native grass-like accent that softens harsh desert hardscape with its flowing cascade of narrow leaves.

Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

succulent

Red Yucca

Hesperaloe parviflora

One of the toughest and most rewarding desert plants, sending up arching coral-red flower spikes that hummingbirds adore.

Very Low Waterfull sunPool Safe

succulent

Native

Parry's Agave

Agave parryi

A compact native agave with tightly packed blue-gray leaves forming one of the most decorative rosettes in the desert.

Very Low Waterfull sun

Quick Stats

Water NeedsLow

Sun Exposurefull sun

Mature Size4 ft H × 4 ft W

Growth Rateslow

Maintenancelow

HardinessUSDA 9-11

FoliageEvergreen

Drainagesharp, fast-draining

Bloom SeasonSpring

Bloom ColorBrown

Litter Levellow

Thornssmall

Native RegionNortheastern Mexico

Design Styles

desert modern

Include in Your Project

Love Grass Tree? Our landscape team sources from wholesale nurseries and can incorporate it into your design.

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Use this care guide to maintain your Grass Tree. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.

Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.