Pachypodium lamerei

Pachypodium lamerei
Pachypodium lamerei in the Quail Botanical Gardens.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Gentianales
Family: Apocynaceae
Genus: Pachypodium
Species: P. lamerei
Binomial name
Pachypodium lamerei
Drake

Pachypodium lamerei is a species of Pachypodium. It has large thorns and leaves mostly just at the top of the plant. It is a stem succulent and comes from the island Madagascar. The plant bears large, fragrant flowers. The species has become one of the best known pachypodiums in cultivation, being relatively easy to propagate and grow. In cultivation it is often marketed as the "Madagascar Palm", despite its not being a palm at all. A variety called "Ramosum" has been described. It is distinguished mostly by a dwarf growth habit.

Description

Pachypodium lamerei has a tall, silvery-gray trunk covered with sharp 6.25 cm spines. Long, narrow leaves grow only at the top of the trunk, like a palm tree. It rarely branches. Plants grown outdoors will reach up to 6 metres. When grown indoors it will slowly reach 1.2-1.8 m tall.

Plants grown outdoors will develop large, white, fragrant flowers at the top of the plant. It rarely flowers indoors.

Cultivation

Pachypodium lamerei grows best in warm climates and full sun. It will not tolerate hard frosts, and will likely drop most of its leaves if exposed to even a light frost. It is easy to grow as a houseplant, if you can provide the sunlight it needs. Use a fast-draining potting mix, such as a cactus mix and pot in a container with drainage holes to prevent root rot.

This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Pachypodium lamerei". Retrieved 21 July 2013.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pachypodium lamerei.