About
Beaucarnea recurvata is a perennial plant that can reach heights of over 2 meters. It features a thick, bulbous trunk that supports a compact rosette of long, sword-shaped leaves that can grow up to 1 meter. This species occasionally produces panicles of small white flowers, although flowering is uncommon.
About the genus
Beaucarnea consists of evergreen perennial plants characterized by a swollen caudex with thick bark that supports a terminal cluster of narrow, linear leaves, which may have finely serrated or fibrous edges. Mature plants will produce tall clusters of small flowers.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1C
Plant details
- Plant type
- Conservatory Greenhouse
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Spread
- 1-1.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 20-50 years
- Suggested uses
- Patio and container plants
- Native to
- Mexico
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Under glass, grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full light. Water moderately when in growth and keep just moist in winter. Top dress or pot on in spring. May be grown outdoors in most moderately fertile, sharply drained soils
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed sown at 18 to 21°C in spring or root offsets in spring
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to scale insects and glasshouse red spider mite
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free