Family: Asparagaceae

Scientific Name: Beaucarnea recurvata

Common Name: Pony Tail Palm, Elephants Foot

Description

Pony Tail Palm (Beaucarnes recurvata) is a very easy to grow "weird but lovable" plant.  Forms a large caudex or swollen stem at it's base.

Pronunciation(boe-KAR-nee-uh)(reck-er-VAY-tuh)
Plant TypeSucculents, Site author's observations
Hardiness Zone9-10, Sunset 13,16-24
Sunlightbright to direct
MoistureThis plant is draught tolerant, but doesn't mind a little more water if the media is well drained. Let it dry out between waterings.
Soil & Sitewell drained
Growing Mediawell drained to average house
Temperatureaverage house to warm
Flowerswhite
Leavesstrap like leaves on top of the extended portion of the caudex
DimensionsCan become tree size (over 18' tall) but usually much smaller when grown in a container.
Maintenanceremoval of dead leaves, browning and loss of lower leaves, seems to be a natural process.
Propagationseeds and division of offsets
Native SiteMexico, Baja, California
Misc FactsCab be listed as a caudiciform shrub or tree.
Author's NotesI have found this plant very easy to grown. If it gets to dry the edges of the leaves will turn crispy brown, but the plant won't die. The swollen stem is called a caudex. When this gets larger it looks like an elephant's foot.
Notes & ReferenceThe strap like leaves on top of the stem looks like a palm tree. The swollen base of the stem looks like an Elephants foot. This is where some of the common names originate.
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