Ponytail Palm Tree

The Ponytail Palm is a unique plant that looks like no other. It has a tall gray trunk flaring out at the base into a broad ‘foot’ like that of an elephant. This foot develops as the plant becomes older. On the top is a swirl of narrow, leathery leaves that cascade downwards, sometimes reaching the ground as they slowly taper to a long tip. The plant has a striking ‘modern’ and exotic look, that makes it a very special choice as a houseplant. Combined with very low care requirements, this makes it one of the easiest plants there is to grow indoors. It thrives in a hot, sunny spot, even behind a south-facing window. It will grow slowly to become several feet tall in time, or as much as 15 feet tall outdoors, if you live in zones 9 or 10, where this plant can be grown in hot and even arid conditions.

• Unique houseplant with a dramatic look
• Handsome trunk with a broad ‘foot’ on older plants
• Curling fronds of leathery leaves cascade downwards
• Very sun-tolerant and drought-resistant
• Great choice for low-maintenance indoors or out

Choose a pot with drainage holes for your Ponytail Palm. Use a potting soil for cactus and succulent plants, and only water when the soil has become completely dry. It is only necessary to move your plant into a bigger pot when the ‘foot’ has filled the pot it is in. Unlike other houseplants that only grow in shady spots, this plant will thrive in the hottest, sunniest window, or in any bright spot in your house. It never needs pruning or trimming, and will survive extended periods of neglect, and still look dramatic and special. It is a great outdoor choice in hot parts of the country where watering the garden is limited or not permitted.