Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)

Ponytail Palm Plant Features

Ponytail palm's best quality is how easy it is to grow: As long as you don't overwater it, the plant may seem virtually indestructible. It's a slow grower that's perfect for just about any room of the home, especially bedrooms. A small ponytail palm looks fabulous on tabletops. It has a spare appearance that makes it fantastic for contemporary and modern interior designs, but ponytail palm also looks great in more casual settings, such as country and eclectic looks. Basically, you can grow this houseplant anywhere.

Over time, this slow-growing tree can put on some size and grow a couple of feet tall indoors. Because this houseplant is so slow growing, though, don't expect it to happen any time soon! Small specimens of ponytail palm are a wonderful choice for side tables, end tables, or coffee tables. 

Ponytail Palm Questions?
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Ponytail Palm Growing Instructions

Grow ponytail palm in bright light for best growth, but it tolerates medium- and low-light spots, as well. Because it stores water in its thick trunk, ponytail palm can survive extended periods with no water -- making it the perfect houseplant if you tend to travel a lot or are a forgetful waterer. That said, this houseplant tree will grow best if watered regularly -- when the top inch or so of the potting mix starts to dry. 
Discover other low-water houseplants. 

Fertilize ponytail palm a couple of times a year in spring and summer. You can use any fertilizer labeled for use on houseplants; just be sure to follow the directions on the product packaging. If you wish to fertilize your plant more frequently, you can -- it will respond by growing faster. 

If leaf tips turn brown, simply clip off the brown parts with a sharp scissors to keep the plant from looking unsightly. 

Ponytail palm is not intended for human or animal consumption.

  • Water

    Low water needs

    Medium water needs

  • Light

    Indoors: High light

    Indoors: Low light

  • Colors

    Green

  • Special Features

    Purifies the air

    Super-easy to grow

Complement your Ponytail Palm

Peperomia
Pair ponytail palm with no-fuss peperomia for an easy-care houseplant combination.

Succulents
Ponytail palm doesn't need much water, making it a perfect partner for fun succulents.

Q&A

How do I water my ponytail palm if it has rocks glued together on top of the soil?
If your ponytail palm has a layer of gravel glued together, we suggest gently removing a small section of the gravel to give you access to feel the soil with your finger or with a moisture meter. If you don't care for the look of the gravel, you can remove it all. One easy way to do this is to moisten it thoroughly. The glue gets softer when wet, making peeling away the pebbles easier. Get more information on caring for plants with pebble mulch.