Beaucarnea – Pony Tail Palm – Head

Beaucarnea recurvata was previously known as Nolina recurvata. Its common names are Pony Tail Palm and Elephant’s Foot. Although called a palm, it is in fact a succulent, being a member of the Agave family.

These smaller Pony Tail palms with ball shaped trunks look stunning as table and desk top plants. They are very easy to care for, making them ideal for almost everyone and an excellent choice for both home and office.

Horty Hints

Hide-and-Seek! Pony Tail Palms are susceptible to mealy bugs which hide in the pleats and folds of the plant. Cotton wool is the clue. See our pests guide for help.

Too wet, pet? Yellowing leaves is a sign that the palm has been watered too much. Allow the soil to almost dry out completely in-between waterings.

Why so dry? If you notice the palm has limp or browning leaf blades, it is desperate for a drink.

Light

The Pony Tail Palm prefers bright, indirect sunlight, however will tolerate some degree of shade. However, your plant is more likely to grow in lighter conditions.

Watering

Although the base of the plant is a water store, your Pony-tail Palm will do best when watered thoroughly on a regular basis. The water store will help the plant survive if you forget occasionally!

Temperature

This Beaucarnea recurvata will thrive in cooler temperatures, therefore normal household conditions will be fine: anything from 5-25°C.

Humidity

This plant is perfect for low-humidity locations. As a desert-dweller, the Pony Tail Palm thrives in the dry air of heated homes.

Feed

Apply a light feed occasionally during the growing season.

View Plant Nutrition

Height & Growth Rate

Pony Tail Palms are very slow growing plants. Over time, this plant will typically reach an indoor maximum height of around 2.5 metres.

Toxicity

Beaucarnea recurvata are non-toxic plants, and are safe to keep around small children and pets.

Air Purifying

Palms clean and improve air quality by filtering formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide toxins from the surrounding environment.

Origin

Beaucarnea recurvata is native to Mexico and Texas, USA.

Please note: images show how this plant may look at various stages of maturity. The size you choose may look different.

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