Hesperaloe

[Tim Ingram]

Hesperaloe parviflora is a modest but very attractive plant when it flowers in our garden. We don't get flowers every year but this year has been good, and although probably nowhere near as dramatic as in desert US gardens it certainly catches the eye. I would probably do well to plant out a batch of seedlings around this one plant and then might get better flowering in successive years. It is growing in one of the hottest and driest spots in the garden with Othonna cheirifolia and Cotinus coggygria in the background; earlier the Madonna lily (Lilium candidum) does well and seeds around here too.

[Weiser]

Your plant looks as happy as any I've grown. The flowers are not eye popping but do have an understated beauty. Have you tried the yellow flowered form? I like the combination of the two colors growing together and I can certainly see were several plants in close proximity would add more punch to the display.   
The hummingbirds are regular visitors when I have it in boom.  I don't know if you would get any pollinators in Europe. Maybe some moths? I think a brush should do as well.

[Tim Ingram]

I should try pollinating it John. We actually get hummingbird hawk moths quite often on salvias, fascinating to watch, but I've never had seed set on Hesperaloe so probably nothing suitable has discovered it. I've read of the yellow form but never seen it - I wonder if it would breed true from seed?

[cohan]

Nice colour on these, Tim. I forget now, are these Agavaceae? I agree a patch of them would be great, in or out of flower

[externmed]

Hesperaloe parviflora is reported to grow well in southern New England Zone 6b (southern Rhode Island) USA, but may not flower strongly.  There are a couple of newer cultivars out with redder flowers.
Charles Swanson Massachusetts USA