Furcraea bedinghausii

The Furcraea bedinghausii, sometimes called Bedinghaus' Dracaena or Mexican Starburst, is one of those extraordinary plants from semi-desert areas of North America, related to Yuccas and agaves. With a highly exotic appearance, but relatively hardy, this beautiful species forms a crown of large succulent leaves of a beautiful gray-green blue color, and develops a trunk after several years. The flowering, powerful and spectacular, marks the end of its life, but the plant perpetuates itself through small bulbils produced on the flower stalks that will germinate when they fall to the ground. This relatively hardy species will bring an exotic color to your garden. In mild climates, reserve a prime location for it in a dry garden or at the center of a large rockery, it deserves it!

Originating from the volcanic slopes of central and southern Mexico, Furcraea bedinghausii can withstand short frosts of around -10°C (14 °F) in dry soil, and summer drought. It is a slow-growing plant from the agave or asparagus family. When young, Furcraea bedinghausii forms a basal tuft composed of large, wide, fleshy, slightly trailing leaves with dentate edges, but not spiny. Each leaf can measure up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) long and 10 cm (3.9 in) wide on an adult plant. After many years, it can form a trunk 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall and 30 cm (11.8 in) in diameter, covered with a 'skirt' of dry leaves that eventually fall off. This trunk carries a large crown of leaves 1m (3 ft 4 in) to 1.50m (4 ft 11 in) wide, composed of a multitude of flexible and slightly trailing leaves. Flowering occurs after 15 to 20 years of cultivation, from May to July in Europe, signifying the death of this semelparous plant. In this species, the inflorescence can rise up to 4 or 5 m (13 ft 1 in or 16 ft 5 in) from the ground. It develops into a large, pyramid-shaped and ramified panicle. The tubular and villous flowers, opening up like 5.5 cm (2.2 in) wide stars, are white tinged with light yellow and green, and have a waxy texture. At the axil of the flowers, bulbils develop which are true little Furcraea in the making. These bulbils take root when they come into contact with a sandy soil kept moist.

Furcraea bedinghausii requires a lot of sun and very well-drained, even poor and dry soil, and tolerates seaside conditions perfectly. It particularly struggles with heavy and waterlogged soils in winter. In mild regions, it will find its place on a large dry slope, at the center of an exotic or contemporary rockery, or even near a swimming pool, if the soil is well prepared to accommodate it. This large plant will simply be magnificent when isolated, accompanied by a carpet of ceraistes, Cerastostigma plumbaginoides, Delosperma or even a short grass meadow of Zoyzia tenuifolia, the Mascarene grass. It can also be partnered with agaves, phormiums, Hesperaloe parviflora, Beschorneria yuccoides, all equally spectacular and frugal. It can also be planted in a very large container on the terrace. Carefully choose the most sheltered place from winter rains, in full sun.