Madagascar Palm

Madagascar Palm (Pachypodium lamerei)

• Other Known Names: Pachypodium, Bottle Palm (not a true palm)
• Genus: Pachypodium
• Species: lamerei

Aesthetic Description

The Madagascar Palm is a master of disguise. With its tall, trunk-like stem and whorl of leathery green leaves at the top, it looks like a tropical palm tree — but it’s all cactus underneath. Its stem is armored with rows of silver spines, giving it a prehistoric, dragon-scale texture. This bold, upright beauty makes a striking architectural accent in pots or arid gardens, especially when grown tall and crowned with a shock of shiny green foliage.

Scientific Description

Pachypodium lamerei is a stem-succulent species in the Apocynaceae family, native to Madagascar. It produces a thick, grey-green, spiny trunk that stores water and supports a tuft of narrow, lanceolate leaves at the apex. In ideal conditions, mature plants may produce large, white, trumpet-shaped flowers resembling those of frangipani. Despite its common name, it is not a true palm.

General Botanical Information

Grown as a bold indoor feature or warm-climate landscape specimen, P. lamerei prefers high light and excellent drainage. It enters dormancy in winter, often dropping leaves. Though slow to branch, it can be shaped over time. Handle with care — the spines are sharp but the plant is otherwise low maintenance and drought tolerant.

Care Description

• Light: Full sun to very bright light

• Watering: Infrequent; allow soil to dry completely between waterings

• Soil: Sandy, fast-draining mix

• Feeding: Lightly during active growth in warm months

• Repotting: Every 2–3 years or when base outgrows container