Beaucarnea recurvata
Common name: Ponytail palm · Elephant's foot tree
Beaucarnea recurvata is a slow-growing succulent tree native to the semi-desert regions of southeastern Mexico. Despite its common name it is not a palm; it stores water in its swollen, bulbous trunk base and bears long, cascading, strap-like leaves.
Care summary
Sun
Bright light, tolerates some direct sun
Water
Infrequent; allow soil to dry completely
Soil
Fast-draining cactus or succulent mix
Hardiness
Zones 10–11
Mature height
Up to 1.8 m (6 ft) indoors, 9 m (30 ft) in the wild
Pet safe
Non-toxic to cats and dogs
Difficulty
Easy
Propagation
Most often grown from seed, which germinates slowly in warm, barely moist sandy soil. Mature plants sometimes produce basal offsets (pups) that can be carefully separated with some roots attached and potted into a fast-draining mix; keep them on the dry side until established.
Fun facts
- It is not a true palm — it belongs to the asparagus family, Asparagaceae.
- The swollen trunk base (caudex) stores water, letting it survive long droughts.
- It grows extremely slowly, often only a few centimeters per year indoors.
- Wild specimens can live for hundreds of years.