Hesperaloe chiangii (G.D.Starr) B.L.Turner is a Chihuahuan Desert species with an unusual taxonomic history — originally described by Greg Starr within the genus Yucca, then transferred to Hesperaloe by Billie Lee Turner. This transfer reflects the ongoing difficulty of drawing sharp generic boundaries in the Agavoideae, where Hesperaloe, Yucca and Hesperoyucca can overlap in morphological characters.
Taxonomy and nomenclature
Originally described as a Yucca by Greg D. Starr, later transferred to Hesperaloe by B.L. Turner. The epithet honours the Mexican-American botanist Fernando Chiang. Family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. The species is rare in cultivation and poorly known in the horticultural literature.
Distribution and natural habitat
Chihuahuan Desert. Detailed locality data is limited in accessible sources. The Chihuahuan Desert origin suggests arid, calcareous, well-drained habitats consistent with the genus as a whole.
Cultivation guide
| Hardiness | −8 to −10 °C / 14–18 °F (estimated; USDA zones 8a–8b) |
| Light | Full sun |
| Soil | Well-drained; calcareous |
| Water | Very low |
| Availability | Rarely cultivated; specialist collections only |
No specific cultivation data is available. The Chihuahuan Desert origin suggests similar requirements to Hesperaloe parviflora in terms of sun, drainage and drought tolerance, with hardiness estimated as moderate based on the general climatic profile of the region.
References
POWO (2026). Hesperaloe chiangii (G.D.Starr) B.L.Turner. Plants of the World Online, Kew.