Dasylirion texanum, the Texas sotol and sotol, is a monocot flowering plant with bright green, strap-like leaves with small, sharp teeth line the leaf edges that form a large growing rosette. Tall narrow flower spikes appear in early summer.
Texas sotol has light green leaves, a short trunk, and spectacular flower stalks from 9 to 15 feet tall. The slender individual leaves are under 1/2 inch wide and barely 3 feet long, spreading from a central trunk that is sometimes partially buried underground. It grows in arid, rocky limestone habitats in the Trans-Pecos, Edwards Plateau, and into Mexico. The dioecious flowers appear from May to August, attracting hummingbirds when they are mature. The leaves have dangerously sharp spines or teeth along their margins, so they must be planted away from pedestrian areas unless they are used for security barriers.
