Native to Eastern Mexico, the Pony Tail Palm is not a true palm but more closely related to Yucca. It is a slow growing palm-like succulent that can attain heights to 30 feet when grown outdoors in temperate climates, and it can reach heights of 6 to 8 feet when container grown as a houseplant. The Pony Tail Palm has a single trunk with a swollen caudex that stores water for use during drought conditions. The long straplike arching and drooping leaves give this plant the appearance of a palm tree. Mature plants produce racemes of pretty cream to whitish blooms that seem to shoot out from the top of the foliage. This plant prefers a sandy well draining soil, is extremely drought tolerant and does well in rock gardens.

The Pony Tail palm is an easy houseplant as long as it's given a lot of sun and isn't over-watered.

Reply to this comment

This succulent tree from the tropical deciduous forests of eastern Mexico has a wide, enlarged base, recurved and reflexed leaves, and tiny unisexual flowers. It may reach up to 15-50 feet tall; the base may be 6 feet or more wide in old age. It is not any kind of palm, despite the English common name, being more closely related to yuccas and agaves. It is called "pata de elefante" (among other names) in Mexico.

It is propagated from seed (which requires separate male and female individuals in flower to produce) or rooted cuttings. Plants started from cuttings will not tend to develop the same extra-wide, bottom-heavy proportions, and are generally less desirable. They are often beheaded at a relatively young age to take another cutting and start a new plant, thereby forcing branching near the base. Here's an example of the way the plant responds to the loss of its growth point. Otherwise branching is typically associated with flowering, which occurs relatively late in life. Since flowers are terminal (the growth center turns into an inflorescence) the only way a stem can continue growing after flowering is to branch at the base of the inflorescence, though perhaps not more than once.

B. recurvata is usually a container plant in cultivation. It is very well behaved (though somewhat limited) in containers, and may flower in them. Provide excellent drainage, strong light, and regular water when the soil is dry at depth. Barring desert heat, it's impossible to provide too much sun.

This is by far the most common Beaucarnea in cultivation (at least 10 times more common than the runner up). A couple of other species in the genus (B. guatemalensis, B. pliabilis) may be confused with it, but can be distinguished based on leaf differences. Another species with a wide, nearly globose base is B. gracilis. Variegated forms of B. recurvata exist, though they are uncommon, and they are typically propagated from rooted cuttings.

B. recurvata is grown in the ground in parts of California and Florida. The Florida plants tend to look dramatically better during the summer because they (unlike the California plants) receive summer water in the form of rain. While this tree tolerates extreme drought, it does a lot better (and looks a lot nicer) when it gets regular water. Likewise, it tolerates extremely confined spaces but will grow considerably faster when allowed some room below ground.

Reply to this comment

I have several Pony Tails, and after separating 3 in a pot, I found that one seemingly healthy plant got the droopy leaves some of these plants have. I prefer the ones that curl out roundly; they look healthier.. After being diligent at giving it the same conditions as the ones that were not drooping, for many months, with no change, I decided to cut my losses on it, and experiment. I took a rubber band, and pulled the leaves up like a pony tail, securing it loosely, and it did look strange. Then I let the plant get much drier than the others, for a month or so. To my surprise, it worked. The plants leaves are as bouncy and graceful as the others now. I am careful to let it get quite dry between waterings. Hope it works for others.

Reply to this comment

Best as a house plant in most zones. Bright light. Water every 7-14 days during the growing season. During the winter, cut back watering to monthly. Prefers temperatures above 60º and dry indoor conditions. Use rich, organic, fast-draining potting soil.

Reply to this comment

A super versatile plant, this will do well in a tiny pot as a bonsai, and as a great big tree in a tropical setting. When in bloom, this tree can resemble something only Dr. Seuss could have dreamed up.
It is slow growing, and large specimen trees are prized and hard to come by.
I have not found any disadvantages with this tree. I have 5 or 6 growing in my yard. It seems to shrug off cold, wet, and drought. A winner!

Reply to this comment