Leaning on Nolina

I've been playing around with new compositions both in the garden and containers and I've becoming more and more infatuated with a hardy Yucca relative from Mexico called Nolina nelsonii.

I was first exposed to this plant at the Center for Urban Horticulture where a stunning specimen is the centerpiece of the McVay Courtyard.


Even covered in snow, it is architecturally stunning and it has certainly proven its hardiness as I've even had a potted specimen sit outside in the open during our deep freeze last November and December.

Here is a simple composition up front where I planted it with one of my favorite Euphorbias. Euphorbia rigida.




This Euphorbia is simply stunning and, like Nolina nelsonii, highly adaptable. They are both very drought tolerant, as expected, from these genera and they have responded fairly well to part shade/morning sun.

In a container, I started playing around with this combination last year when I had a potted specimen of Nolina and a bundle of golden caramel colored curly willow. It's a stunning contrast in both color and texture, I think.




R