Scientific Name
Alluaudia montagnacii Rauh
Scientific Classification
Family: Didiereaceae
Subfamily: Didiereoideae
Genus: Alluaudia
Origin
Alluaudia montagnacii is endemic to Madagascar.
Description
Alluaudia montagnacii is a spiny succulent with strong vertical branches that arise from a columnar central trunk. It can grow up to 20 feet (6 m) tall. The trunk and branches have symmetrically arranged leaves and black-tipped spines. The leaves can grow up to 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) long, while the spines can reach up to 1 inch (2.5 cm). The leaves are deciduous in the long dry season.
The flowers are small, green, or yellow.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9b to 11b: from 25 °F (−3.9 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Alluaudias need full sun or high interior lighting, well-drained soil mix, and freely circulating air. The best way to water these succulents is to soak the soil and let it dry out completely before watering again. If fertilizer is used, it should be diluted to 1/4 the recommended rate on the label.
These plants must be protected in the greenhouse over the winter. Established Alluaudias should tolerate temperatures around 32 °F (0 °C). During the winter months, the plants will drop all their leaves, and no water should be given during this period.
If planted in the landscape, however, it will often drop all its leaves when it decides to take a rest. When this happens, cut down on the watering until the leaves start to appear again.
Alluaudias are propagated from cuttings taken in the spring or from seed when available.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Alluaudia.
Links
- Back to genus Alluaudia
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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