Madagascar Palm

Botanical Name: Pachypodium lamerei

Madagascar Palm is long-lived and easy to please. This semi-succulent plant requires very little water, even less in the winter. Just put it the full sun of a west- or south-facing window and it needs little attention to thrive.

 

This popular Pachypodium has a shiny silver trunk covered with long, sharp spines. The trunk may branch out, making it even more attractive. A tuft of long, narrow leaves grow only at the top of the trunk, like a palm tree. However, it isn't really a palm but a succulent from the Apocyanaceae family.

In the summer, clusters of fragrant, white flowers will appear on mature plants that are grown outdoors. Don't expect it to bloom indoors, unless you can provide plenty of direct sunlight.

You may want to move this sun-loving succulent outdoors to your porch or patio for the summer. Just remember to bring it back inside when the temperature drops -- it won't tolerate frost.

Repot in spring every 3-4 years or when it outgrows its pot. It's a good idea to use a heavy container to prevent toppling. This thick-trunked tree can get top-heavy. Also, be careful of those spines when handling this plant. Wear thick garden gloves and wrap a newspaper or old towel around the trunk when repotting it to protect your hands.

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 normal watering and fertilizing.

Madagascar Palm Care Tips

Origin: Madagascar, Africa

Height: Can reach 6 ft (1.8 m) indoors, much taller if grown outdoors in a frost-free climate.

Light: Full sun

Water: Water thoroughly and allow top half of soil to dry out between waterings. In winter, water sparingly just to keep the soil from drying out completely. Plant in a pot with drainage holes to prevent root rot.

Humidity: Average indoor humidity

Temperature: Average room temperatures 60-75°F/16-24°C. If you move your plant outdoors for the summer, don't worry -- it can take the heat. Just bring it back in when the temperature drops.

Soil: Cactus potting mix works well to provide fast drainage. Or you can use 2 parts all-purpose potting mix with 1 part sharp sand or perlite.

Fertilizer: Feed in spring and summer with an indoor palm fertilizer.

Propagation: Sow seeds in spring. Offsets can be cut away from the parent plant and potted up separately.