Pony Tail Palm

Beaucarnea recurvata

Because of its somewhat palm-like appearence and the bunches of long, thin leaves, Beaucarnea recurvata has come to be called "ponytail palm". However, it's not actually a palm.

The base of the trunk swells dramatically as the plant grows, so bear this in mind when selecting a site. It can be kept in a container for a while, but will break pots and gets very heavy.

The ponytail palm was covered in more detail in the 26-02-2021 edition of Get Results Gardening. That's a weekly email publication for Australian gardeners, especially those in the tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions. If you request a free trial (see calyx.com.au/getresultsgardening.html for instructions) you can also ask for a copy of the 20-03-2020 edition to be sent as well if you want to read that article (Australian residents only, please).

Beaucarnea in the Landscape

These pictures wil give you an idea of the size and shape ponytail palms can attain, so you can decide where best to place them in the garden. Click for larger images.