Desert Spoon Adds a Native Accent to a Tucson Garden

Symmetrical Form for a Curving Path

Landscape architect Stephen Grede chose a native plant with powerful symmetrical shape—desert spoon, or sotol (Dasylirion wheeleri)—to accentuate the gently curving path in Carol Gordon’s Tucson garden. This evergreen shrub reaches 3 feet tall with an equal spread, forming clumps of spiky blue‑green foliage with tiny curved teeth along the margins of the leaves and spoon‑shaped bases where they meet the trunk.

Growing Conditions

Native to southern Arizona and New Mexico, desert spoon grows best in Sunset climate zones 10‑13. The plant demands excellent drainage, displaying its best form in full sun or light shade. Fall is a good time to set out nursery plants from 1‑ or 5‑gallon containers.

Path Materials Complement the Plant

In Gordon’s garden, Grede used decomposed granite for the path and edged it with Salt River rock. The stones also serve as a mulch around the plants, holding moisture in the ground and preventing soil erosion in windy weather. The plantings and path were installed by Oasis Gardens Landscape, of Tucson.