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Plant Profile

Beaucarnea recurvata (Ponytail, Elephant's foot tree)

Ponytail palm is an evergreen shrub or tree that is native to semi-desert areas of  Mexico, where it can reach 8-10 m. In cold climates it is commonly grown as a houseplant.  Although its common name, ponytail palm is not a true palm. It is noted for having a large, swollen, often flask-shaped, water-retaining base from which rises a trunk-like stem growing narrow, flat, palm-like leaves. The cascading nature of the leaves gives much the appearance of a pony's tail. Old plants may produce tiny creamy white flowers in clusters. Flowers rarely appear on houseplants. The plant can make a good centerpiece whether grown as a specimen, a container plant, near patios, or placed in rock gardens.

 

  • Landscape Information
  • Botanical Description
  • Horticulture Management
  • By Berthold Werner (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • By User:BotBln (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • By H. Zell (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • By Hedwig Storch (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • By Berthold Werner (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Berthold Werner (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

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  • French Name: Pied d'éléphant, Arbre bouteille

    Pronunciation: boe-KAR-nee-uh reck-er-VAY-tuh

  • Plant type: Palm

  • Origin: Mexico

  • Heat Zones: 1 to 16

    Hardiness Zones: 10 to 12

  • Uses: Specimen, Indoor, Container

  • Size/Shape

    Growth Rate: Slow

    Tree Shape: Palm

    Canopy Symmetry: Irregular

    Canopy Density: Open

    Canopy Texture: Fine

    Height at Maturity: 3 to 5 m

    Spread at Maturity: 3 to 5 meters

    Time to Ultimate Height: 10 to 20 Years

  • By Berthold Werner (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • By User:BotBln (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • By H. Zell (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • By Hedwig Storch (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • By Berthold Werner (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Berthold Werner (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

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  • Foliage

    Leaf Arrangement : Spiral

    Leaf Venation: Parallel

    Leaf Persistance: Evergreen

    Leaf Type: Simple

    Leaf Blade: 50 - 80

    Leaf Shape: Linear

    Leaf Margins: Serrate

    Leaf Texture: Coarse

    Leaf Scent: No Fragance

    Color(growing season): Green

    Color(changing season): Green

  • Flower

    Flower Showiness: Yes

    Flower Size Range: 10 - 20

    Flower Type: Panicle

    Flower Sexuality: Diecious (Monosexual)

    Flower Scent: No Fragance

    Flower Color: Yellow, White

    Seasons: Spring, Summer

  • Trunk

    Trunk has Crownshaft: No

    Trunk Susceptibility to Breakage: Generally resists breakage

    Number of Trunks: Multi-Trunked

    Trunk esthetic Values: Showy

  • Fruit

    Fruit Type: Capsule

    Fruit Showiness: No

    Fruit Size Range: 0 - 1.5

    Fruit Color: Red

    Seasons: Spring, Summer

  • By Berthold Werner (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • By User:BotBln (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • By H. Zell (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • By Hedwig Storch (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
  • By Berthold Werner (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Berthold Werner (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons

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  • Tolerance

    Frost Tolerant: No

    Heat Tolerance: Yes

    Drought Tolerance: Yes

    Salt Tolerance: Moderate

  • Requirements

    Soil Requirements: Loam, Sand

    Soil Ph Requirements: Neutral, Alkaline

    Water Requirements: Low

    Light Requirements: Full, Part

  • Management

    Toxicity: No

    Invasive Potential: No

    Susceptibility to Pests and Diseases: No

    Pruning Requirements: No pruning at all

    Fruit/ Leaves/ Flowers litter: No

    Surface Rooting: No

    Life Span: 25-50 years

    Pests: Mites, Scales, Mealy-Bug

    Plant Propagation: Seed

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