Beaucarnea recurvata, elephant's foot

Beaucarnea recurvata's swollen trunk and tuft of curved leaves make it hard to miss. This member of the Asparagaceae family grows in the desert areas of Mexico, among echeveria agavoides and Yucca gigantea. But it's also at home in our homes.

How do you recognize Beaucarnea recurvata?

Beaucarnea recurvata is a semi-succulent tree with an upright habit. In the wild, it reaches a height of eight meters. In pots and indoors, it rarely reaches two meters.

The plant is nicknamed "elephant foot" or "bottle tree" because of its thick trunk. It has a bulge at the base, enabling it to store water and cope with periods of drought. This reservoir looks like a pachyderm's foot when you look at it. But it also has the same texture! The light-brown bark wrinkles and becomes rough with age.

The trunk and branches are topped by a tuft of glossy green leaves. Blades are no more than two centimetres wide, but can be 30 to 90 cm long.

Mature Beaucarnea recurvata flowers in summer. They are then adorned with panicles of white or cream flowers.

The shrub is not toxic, but its leaves have sharp edges. Wear gloves when handling it, and avoid leaving it within reach of hands or fangs!

Our maintenance tips

Beaucarnea recurvata is an easy-care plant. It only fears excess water. If you notice that the leaves are turning brown, your plant is probably too close to a heat source or in a draught. Also check that the leaves have room to droop. If stuck against a wall or piece of furniture, they tend to turn yellow.

Watering

Water your Beaucarnea recurvata when the potting soil has dried on the surface, for at least three centimetres.

Supply the plant with non-calcareous water at room temperature. Rainwater is best. If you don't have any, you can filter mains water or leave it to stand for 24 hours.

After watering, check the saucer or planter. If stagnant water appears, empty it. It could rot the roots.

Spray

Spray foliage with non-calcareous water at room temperature. Fogging helps improve humidity, clean leaves and control pests.

Repotting

Every spring, repot your Beaucarnea recurvata to give it more space.

Your Beaucarnea recurvata likes to be cramped. Get a pot with a hole in it that's taller than it is wide, and a few centimetres longer than the previous one. So that the roots don't bathe in water, avoid models with a water reservoir.

Pour in a drainage layer, clay balls or a bed of gravel, then the substrate. Beaucarnea recurvata is not difficult. Ordinary potting soil for green plants or heather with a little sand will do the trick.

Place your plant in the center, with the trunk upright. Then fill in with substrate to within two or three centimetres of the edge of the pot. But be careful! The swollen part of the trunk must not be buried!

Fertilization

To promote the growth of your Beaucarnea recurvata, apply fertilizer in spring and summer.

To stimulate the growth of your Beaucarnea recurvata, use a liquid fertilizer for green plants.

Cleaning

Clean the leaves with a clean wet sponge. This removes dust and improves photosynthesis. It's also a way of preventing mite infestations.

Cutting

Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.

Using disinfected and sharpened pruning shears or scissors, remove a ten-centimeter stem (two leaf levels).

To allow the graft to heal, lay it flat in a ventilated room, out of direct sunlight, for two days.

In a pierced pot, pour gravel or clay balls for drainage. Add a rich substrate, such as special cuttings soil or horticultural compost. Dig a hole using a pen or stake. Plant your young Beaucarnea recurvata and tamp lightly.

Water to encourage rooting.

Diseases / Threats

Red spiders

Mealybugs

Information

Family	Asparagaceae - Asparagaceae
Type	Beaucarnea - Beaucarnea
Species	Beaucarnea recurvata - Beaucarnea recurvata
Lifecycle	Perennial
Foliage	Evergreen
Exposure	Sun
Substrat	Humus soil
Planting methods	In pots In tubs
Category	Tree
Origin	Central America
Hardiness (USDA)	9b
Leaf color
Flower color