Pachypodium lamerei is named after Mr. Lamére, the plant collector who supplied the specimen used to describe the species by Emmanuel Drake Del Castillo. Commonly referred to as Madagascar Palm, after its area of origin. This species is a caudiciform succulent, and not related to palm trees. It is a slow grower, averaging 4" per year, reaching up to 12' in its native habitat. The foliage forms a crown at the top of the stem, with glossy, dark olive green leaves that are long and narrow, giving it the appearance similar to that of a palm tree. Its silver-gray trunk is covered in prickly spines, that are formed by the stipules at the base of the leaves once the older leaves fall off.

Easy to care for indoors, best growth when exposed to at least 2-3 hours of either morning or evening sun a day. Can tolerate full sun, but must be gradually acclimated to avoid scorching the leaves. Allow to dry between watering, as it is prone to root rot. overwatering and insufficient light are the most common problems in cultivation. Fertilize every 2 months during spring and summer, then every 3 months during autumn and winter with a fertilizer formulated for cactus. Madagascar Palms are better potbound for several years. Repot every 3-4 years if absolutely necessary in a well draining mix labeled for cactus and succulents. Only repot in the next sized pot, as too much extra soil holds a lot of moisture and increases the risk of root rot. While it is not as toxic as other plants in the Apocynaceae family, being punctured by the spines can cause pain, swelling and numbness. We recommend wearing gloves and wrapping the trunk in several layers of newspaper when repotting to avoid injury or any potential allergic reaction some people may have to the sap.

Does not require additional humidity, however a quick shower every now and then will hydrate the foliage and wash away any dust or potential pests that thrive in dry conditions such as spidermites.

Only mature plants will produce blooms, large fragrant flowers with 5 white petals and yellow centers that look similar to plumeria, and the seed pods look like diverging horns!

These plants are not cold hardy, protect from temps below 55F.