Beaucarnea recurvata

English name: Elephant's Foot/Ponytail Palm

Latin name: Beaucarnea recurvata

Family: Asparagus - Asparagaceae

Origin: Mexico

This plant grows naturally in Mexico’s dry plateau regions. A perennial evergreen, it grows  to over 4 m. tall. It has a strong and thickened stem (known as a caudex) at its base, which serves to store water. The trunk, resembling that of a palm tree, produces a “plumage” of rigid, ribbon-like, rough-surfaced leaves, with sharp edges. On older specimens, inflorescences of numerous greenish-white flowers may be seen.

 This popular potted plant is sometimes called  “elephant’s foot” because of the appearance of its caudex stem.