Why will I love it?
The leaves on the Beaucarnea recurvata give the illusion that the plant is in constant, joyful motion. Despite its common name, this plant is not a palm but a dioecious succulent tree (dioecious meaning the plants are either male or female). Its unusual thick, woody truck and enlarged base are signature traits of ‘caudiciform’ plants.
Light or shade?
Bright light to full sun exposure.
Where should I put it?
On a bright south-facing windowsill or side table that receives direct sunlight.
How do I keep it alive?
First, shower your ponytail plant with as much sunlight as possible. Although it looks like a mini tree, make sure you treat it as the succulent it is, allowing the soil to dry out between watering. In winter, reduce the watering to a sprinkle to prevent the roots from rotting; try to avoid the trunk, watering the soil instead. They are very hardy plants and can survive temperatures below -5C. When grown in a container, they can reach heights of about 1.2 metres, and will probably never flower.
Did you know …
The species name recurvata means “bent back”, referencing the plant’s long backwards-arching leaves, whose tough, stringy fibres are used to weave baskets and mats in its Mexican home. These are long-living, slow-growing plants, live for hundreds of years in their native Mexico.
