Beaucarnea guatemalensis
| Light | Bright light to full sun; tolerates some shade indoors |
|---|---|
| Water | Sparingly; let the mix dry out fully, water stored in the caudex |
| Soil | Fast-draining, gritty mix (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Keep above freezing; USDA zones 9b–11 |
| Propagation | Seed; occasionally offsets |
| Toxicity | Non-toxic to cats and dogs |
Beaucarnea guatemalensis is a caudex-forming member of the Beaucarnea genus, closely related to the familiar ponytail palm, and grown in much the same way. It is prized for the reddish or bronzed tint of its new growth, which gives rise to the common name red ponytail palm. Like its relatives it is not a true palm at all but a succulent member of the asparagus family, storing water in a swollen, bottle-shaped base.
Description
Beaucarnea guatemalensis develops a broad, swollen caudex — a bulbous water-storing base — topped by a slender trunk (or several) that carries fountains of long, narrow, arching leaves. The foliage is strap-like and flexible, cascading in the same "ponytail" manner as B. recurvata. Its most distinctive feature is the colour of the emerging leaves and young growth, which flush a warm reddish to coppery tone before maturing to green.
In age and in habitat the plant can become a substantial tree with a heavily fissured, corky bark and a much-branched crown. As a container plant it stays far smaller and grows slowly, keeping its neat, tufted form for many years.
Distribution and habitat
As its name suggests, the species is native to Guatemala and neighbouring parts of Central America, where it grows in seasonally dry woodland and rocky, exposed sites. These habitats deliver bright sun, sharp drainage and a pronounced dry season — conditions the swollen caudex is adapted to buffer, letting the plant coast through months of drought on stored water.
Cultivation
Grow Beaucarnea guatemalensis exactly as you would the common ponytail palm: in a very free-draining, gritty mix, in the brightest light you can offer. It makes an easy and forgiving houseplant, and outdoors in frost-free climates it can be grown as a landscape specimen.
Water thoroughly only once the mix has dried right through, then allow it to dry again — the caudex means the plant tolerates underwatering far better than overwatering, which is the usual cause of loss through basal rot. Reduce watering in winter and keep the plant on the dry side when cool. It appreciates warmth and responds to bright light with stronger colour in the new growth. See Watering and Repotting for general technique; a snug pot suits it well.
Propagation
Seed is the primary method, as with most Beaucarnea. Fresh seed germinated warm on a mineral surface gives the most reliable results, though seedlings are slow to bulk up their caudex. The species will occasionally produce basal offsets that can be separated once rooted; see Propagation — seed and Propagation — offsets for details. True-to-type vegetative increase is otherwise limited.
Common problems
- Rot — overwatering or a poorly draining mix causes the caudex or base to soften and brown; err on the dry side.
- Brown leaf tips — often from very dry air, salt build-up, or erratic watering; unsightly but rarely serious.
- Pests — scale insects and mealybugs can shelter among the leaf bases and in the crown; spider mites may appear in hot, dry conditions.
See also
- Beaucarnea — the genus overview
- Beaucarnea recurvata — the common ponytail palm
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Propagation — seed · Propagation — offsets · Pests and diseases