Hesperaloe Diseases

About Hesperaloe

• The red hesperaloe is an evergreen perennial that bears grayish-green rosettes of stiff, narrow leaves that reach up to 30 inches long. The long leaves rise up and curve, giving the plant a fountainlike appearance. In spring and summer, it also bears attractive flower spikes that reach up to 10 feet tall and feature gorgeous displays of tubular, salmon pink, red or yellow flowers. This plant slowly grows in clumps ranging from 2 to 4 feet wide and 3 to 5 feet tall.

Rots

• Like other agave family members, the red hesperaloe occasionally suffers from crown and root rots. Caused by soil-borne bacteria or fungi, crown and root rots make the fleshy leaves turn brown and wilt. The entire plant eventually collapses and dies. Hesperaloe rot infections typically go hand in hand with agave weevil infestations. These small, dark pests cause small wounds when feeding and laying eggs, and those tissue injuries allow the rot pathogens to easily enter a plant.

  Rots can't be treated once the disease enters the plant, and you can't prevent infections by treating agave weevil populations with chemicals. Remove and destroy any hesperaloe plants that show signs of rot infections. Because soil-borne pathogens can survive in the soil for many years, avoid planting agave family plants in any area that hosted infected hesperaloes.

Anthracnose

• Red hesperaloe sometimes attracts anthracnose fungal pathogens. This disease thrives in moist weather and particularly likes plants in shady areas. Anthracnose initially causes small lesions to form on the leaves. As the disease progresses, the lesions grow and become covered with orange or red fungal spores. Anthracnose infections frequently kill entire hesperaloe leaves. The fungal pathogens need standing water to germinate and infect, so avoid watering your plants from above. Unfortunately, no fungicidal treatment effectively treats this disease, as of May 2013, so remove any leaves infected with lesions to avoid spreading the fungi.

Hesperaloe Care

• Red hesperaloe performs best when planted in full sun with plenty of room to spread out. The University of Arizona's Backyard Gardener suggests planting hesperaloe at least 2 feet away from pathways, driveways and sidewalks. Although it adapts to various soil conditions, it needs well-draining soil for optimal health. This low-maintenance plant only needs you to occasionally remove dead leaves and spent flower stalks to keep it looking tidy.

  This desert native is drought tolerant and needs no supplemental watering once established. Regular watering does promote faster growth, greener foliage and better flowering. The Desert Botanical Garden recommends watering twice a month in summer. Water until the top 8 to 12 inches of soil are moist. Allow the soil to dry out between watering sessions.