Ponytail palm overview
A swollen-base succulent sold as a palm. It is not in the palm family. USDA 10 to 11 outdoors, a bright dry houseplant everywhere else.
Region of origin
Eastern Mexico
Native countries
Historical discovery
Charles Lemaire published Beaucarnea recurvata in 1861 from eastern Mexico. It is a succulent in Asparagaceae, not a palm.
Names
Common names
Ponytail palm, Elephant foot tree, Bottle palm (misapplied)
Synonyms
- Nolina recurvata (Lem.) Hemsl.
Cold hardiness
Survives about 32°F / 0°C. Outdoor range USDA 10a–11b. Hover or click a zone, state, or country. Switch the U.S. map between states and hardiness zones.
Highlighted USDA zones 10a–11b. Green countries can be grown outdoors.
United States
In range Too cold
World
Native Can be grown
Alaska and Hawaii are state outlines with their overall zone range. A country is painted if its mildest inhabited winter is at least one USDA step milder than this palm’s hardiness.
Scientific facts
- True palms are Arecaceae. This is Asparagaceae, closer to yucca than to a coconut.
- The bulbous caudex stores water. Overwatering rots it.
- The long grassy leaves give the ponytail name. It is not a bottle palm (Hyophorbe).
Get this palm
Other helpful resources
Full care guide
The ponytail palm is a swollen-foot succulent from eastern Mexico, sold as a palm because of the tuft of grassy leaves. It is Beaucarnea recurvata, not Arecaceae. USDA 10 to 11 outdoors. Indoors it wants a bright window and a dry mix.
Common Names:
Ponytail palm, elephant foot tree. Bottle palm is a different plant (Hyophorbe lagenicaulis).
Scientific Name:
Beaucarnea recurvata (Lem.) Lem. Older lists say Nolina recurvata.
Origin:
Eastern Mexico.
Appearance:
A caudex that looks like an elephant foot, a thinning trunk, and a fountain of long, narrow leaves. No pinnate palm fronds. No coconut.
Growth Rate:
Slow. The base widens over years.
Max Growth Height:
A houseplant stays a few feet for a long time. Old outdoor trees in frost-free ground can pass 10 to 15 feet.
Foliage Spread:
The leaf fountain is the width. A few feet in a pot, wider in the ground.
Cold Hardiness and Hardiness Zone:
USDA 10 to 11. Damage near freezing. Treat it as a pot plant anywhere with frost.
Soil Type:
Gritty, fast-draining cactus mix. A wet organic pot is how you lose the caudex.
Fruit and Flowering:
Branched sprays of small flowers on mature plants. Indoor specimens often never bloom.
Can it Grow Indoors:
Yes. This is the usual job. Bright light, dry cycles, a snug pot.
Light Requirements:
Full sun outdoors. The brightest window indoors. A dim parlor-palm corner will etiolate it.
Water Requirements:
Soak, then let it go dry. Winter indoor plants want even less. Soggy soil is the killer.
Maintenance Level:
Low. Do not overpot. Dust the leaves. A light feed in spring is enough. Do not treat it like a thirsty majesty palm.
Common Diseases/Pests:
Mealybugs in the leaf base, and rot from kindness-watering. Scale on neglected indoor plants.
Plant Care:
Bright light, gritty mix, dry between waterings. Outdoors only above the frost line in drained ground. Bring patio plants in before nights hit the 40s.
Ponytail palm Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Is ponytail palm a real palm?
No. It is Beaucarnea recurvata, a succulent in Asparagaceae. Nurseries sell it as a palm because of the trunk and leaf tuft.
2. How often should I water it?
When the mix is dry. In a bright room that may be every two or three weeks. In winter, longer.
3. Can it live outside in zone 9?
Not as a landscape plant. Grow it in a pot and bring it in, or pick a true hardy palm.
4. Is it the same as bottle palm?
No. Bottle palm is Hyophorbe lagenicaulis, a true palm from the Mascarenes.
If you want a dry, slow houseplant that looks a little like a palm, ponytail is the one. If you want an actual palm, pick an Arecaceae species that matches your winter.