Ponytail Palm

The Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) is not a palm at all. It sits in the asparagus family, and the swollen grey trunk base is a working water store, which is why it forgives the fortnight you spent away. In open ground it reaches about 4m tall and 2.5m across over ten to fifteen years; in a pot it settles near 1.5m.

Why you'll love it

• It carries its own water. Missing two or three summer waterings does no damage.
• Slow and predictable. It will not outgrow the position you chose.
• Safe around pets. Not toxic to cats or dogs.
• Indoors or out. Bright rooms, balconies and courtyards suit it as well as a garden bed.
• Heat, drought and salt tolerant. Comfortable in dry inland heat and on an exposed coastal block.

Where it works best

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A pot 400mm or wider holds one for years, and container growing keeps it near 1.5m, which suits a balcony a 4m plant never would.

Feature planting and rockeries. A single specimen in gravel reads as sculpture rather than shrubbery. Allow about 2.5m of clear space so the leaves are not crowded.

Indoors. One of the easier large indoor plants, given a bright position and free drainage.

Growing Ponytail Palm in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun outdoors, or the brightest indoor spot you have. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate, arid and Mediterranean gardens. It takes light frost only, so in frosty districts grow it in a container you can move under cover for winter.

Soil. Sharp drainage is non-negotiable. Sandy and gravelly soils suit it untouched; on clay, plant on a raised mound and open the backfill with coarse sand. Indoors, use a cactus and succulent mix.

Water and feed. Soak it, then let the soil dry right through: every two to three weeks in warm weather, monthly in winter. A soft base means too much water, not too little. Slow release fertiliser once in early spring is all it asks.

Pruning. None needed. Pull browned leaves away at the base and leave the growing tip alone; cutting it permanently changes the plant's shape.

What to expect when it arrives

Nine sizes are grown. The 140mm pack of ten, 200mm pack of six and 250mm pack of three suit group planting or a rockery. Single 300mm and 400mm pots suit a courtyard, and the 45L, 75L, 100L and 160L sizes are advanced stock with a formed trunk base. Small plants arrive as a tuft of leaves over a golf ball sized base, which takes several years to swell.

Leaf tips often crease or brown in transit, which is cosmetic and grows out. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the wider architectural plant range.
• Compare other plants suited to pots and containers.
• Read our guide to choosing the right size pot.
• See other plants safe for pets.

Common questions

Is it actually a palm?

No. It is closer to asparagus and yuccas, which is why it stores its own water and asks so little.

How big will it get in a pot?

About 1.5m, and it holds there for years. Only plants in open ground work up towards 4m.

How often should I water it?

Every two to three weeks in the warm months and monthly in winter. Yellow lower leaves point to overwatering.

Will it survive frost?

Light frost only. In Canberra, inland Victoria, the tablelands and other hard frosting districts, keep it in a pot you can shift under cover.