Hello everyone, my name is Ali Abbas, quick background on me. I was born and raised in
Arizona, but my family is from Pakistan. My father moved here in 1999 and opened up a
restaurant called Copper Kettle. I have two older sisters, so I am the youngest in my family. I am
currently a freshman in my second semester at ASU majoring in Applied Biological Sciences.
After talking to many people who have completed their degree in Applied Biological Sciences as
well as people who are currently in the process of completing it this class was always a
suggestion that I heard, so I decided to take it this semester after hearing all the applause.
The shrub I am going to talk about today is known as the red yucca. Also known as the
hesperaloe parviflora, hummingbird yucca, redflower false yucca, and samandoque. My family
has always been one that loves nature and growing up I held onto the trait of admiring the
environment around me. Once I read the question that needed to be answered with this
assignment, the physical characteristics of the red yucca arose in my mind, although I wasn’t
familiar with the name of the plant, I knew exactly what plant I was going to write about. This
plant has been around me my whole life, planted in the neighborhoods that I grew up in as well
as the one I currently live in. It’s followed me my whole life, watching me fall off my
skateboard, watching me ride my bike with my friends, watching me act like I’m in the NBA
shooting a last second buzzer beater. After a long day of pursuing the future I strive to have, the
red yucca helps me channel my inner child and remember to live life to my fullest potential.
Arizona is a state which is famous for its burning heat and high temperatures, the environment
Arizona provides the red yucca is perfect for its existence, this explains why it is such a popular
plant that is seen all across the state. The hesperaloe parviflora is native to the Chihuahuan desert
in southwestern Texas and Coahuila, both of which have similar climates to Arizona. Heat is
something the plant craves and Arizona provides that with no hardship. A major plus to having
these plants is that they require little maintenance, such as removing dead flower stalks.
The cultural requirements to grow the red yucca are minimal, it is able to tolerate temperatures as
low as -20 degrees Fahrenheit and adores the heat. The one task that is necessary is to remove the
dead flower stalks and removing leaves that are beginning to decay. This is usually done at the
end of the summer. The physical characteristics of the hesperaloe parviflora change depending
on the time of the year. The tips of the stalks that are supported by the base of the shrub change
between two colors. Blue/green when it is colder, and pink/red when the temperature is warmer.
Hummingbirds love the tall stems of the plant and the abundant nectar provided by its flowers.
All in all, the red yucca or the scientific term the hesperaloe parviflora is a very beautiful and
nearly self-sufficient plant that can make an environment richer than it already is. It brings back
plenty of memories for me personally and it is my favorite landscape shrub.
Works Cited
