Scientific Name
Alluaudia montagnacii Rauh
Scientific Classification
Family: Didiereaceae
Subfamily: Didiereoideae
Genus: Alluaudia
Description
Alluaudia montagnacii is a spiny succulent with strong vertical branches that arise from a columnar central trunk. It grows up to 20 feet (6 m) tall. The trunk and branches have symmetrically arranged, up to 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) long leaves and black-tipped, up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) long thorns. The leaves are deciduous in the long dry season. 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 with well-drained soil mix and freely circulating air. The best way to water these succulents is to completely soak the soil and then let it dry out completely before you water 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 of 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.
Origin
his species is endemic to Madagascar.
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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