Scientific Name
Beaucarnea recurvata Lem.
Common Name(s)
Ponytail Palm, Pony Tail Palm, Pony Tail, Bottle Ponytail, Bottle Palm, Elephant's Foot, Elephant's Foot Tree
Synonym(s)
Beaucarnea inermis, Beaucarnea tuberculata, Dasylirion inerme, Dasylirion inermis, Dasylirion recurvatum, Nolina recurvata, Nolina tuberculata, Pincenectitia tuberculata
Scientific Classification
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Nolinoideae
Genus: Beaucarnea
Description
Beaucarnea recurvata is a dioecious succulent tree with a trunk with a swollen base and leaves that form clumps at the ends of the branches and droop down. It is often seen as a houseplant, but it can reach up to 30 feet (9 m) tall outdoors. Once the plant matures, it produces flowers in late spring or summer. The small cream-colored flowers are held in pyramidal, up to 2 feet (60 cm) tall inflorescence at the branch tips. They are sometimes followed by reddish winged fruit.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 45 °F (+7.2 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Ponytail Palm is winter hardy to USDA plant hardiness zone 9 where it is best grown in sandy soils with sharp drainage in full sun.
It is a very popular houseplant in more temperate climates. Houseplants should be placed in a sunny window. Plants like sunny, warm, dry conditions and overwinter well with furnace heat. Houseplants are best grown in relatively small pots with excellent drainage. Plants may be moved outdoors after last spring frost date with gradual adjustment to full sun locations and cooler temperatures. Fading leaves may be peeled off. Brown leaf tips may be clipped off.
Outdoors in summer, plants should be given regular water but allowed to dry out between waterings. Reduce watering for plants brought indoors for winter.
Ponytail palms should never be top-trimmed, and they will respond wonderfully to a consistent feeding program in the growing season. Keep in mind, though, that it is an extremely slow-growing plant, so don't expect your desktop plant to transform into a corner specimen in 1 or 2 growing seasons.
See more at How to Grow and Care for a Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata).
Origin
This species is native to semi-desert areas of southeastern Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala.
Links
- Back to genus Beaucarnea
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
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