Scientific Name
Pachypodium lamerei f. cristata
Accepted Scientific Name
Pachypodium lamerei Drake
Common Names
Crested Madagascar Palm
Synonyms
Pachypodium lamerei f. cristatum, Pachypodium lamerei 'Cristate'
Scientific Classification
Family: Apocynaceae
Subfamily: Apocynoideae
Tribe: Malouetieae
Genus: Pachypodium
Description
Pachypodium lamerei f. cristata is a semi-deciduous, succulent-stemmed tree, up to 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, with a thick, crested trunk. The silver-gray trunk is covered with sharp and up to 2.4 inches (6 cm) long spines. The leaves are green and arranged mostly just at the top of the plant.
Photo via topinspired.com
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 9a to 11b: from 20 °F (−6.7 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Madagascar Palm is not difficult to grow as a houseplant as long as it receives enough light and is planted in well-draining soil. Be sure to place the plant in a container with drainage holes to avoid root rot.
This plant requires bright light and fairly warm temperatures. Place your Madagascar Palm outdoors during daylight hours whenever the weather is above 70 °F (21 °C). It requires full sunlight to thrive. When it is not outdoors, keep it near a window with access to as much sunlight as possible.
Give the plant water when the surface soil is dry. Like many other plants, you can water less in the winter. Water just enough to keep the soil from drying out.
Use a diluted houseplant fertilizer at the beginning of spring and the beginning of summer. If Madagascar Palm is happy and healthy, it will grow about 12 inches (30 cm) a year and blooms profusely.
If your palm shows signs of disease or pest infestation, remove the damaged parts. Leaf drop in winter is perfectly normal. Madagascar Palm may even drop all its leaves. But don't worry. It'll grow more leaves in spring when it gets the sunshine and warmth it loves. When it comes out of dormancy, and you see new leaves growing, that's your cue to resume regular watering and fertilizing.
Learn more at How to Grow and Care for Pachypodium.
Origin
Pachypodium lamerei f. cristata is a crested form of Pachypodium lamerei.
Links
- Back to genus Pachypodium
- Succulentopedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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