🪴 Pachypodium rosulatum var. gracilis (gracilius)
Common: Elephant’s Foot / Ivory Palace | Family: Apocynaceae | Origin: Isalo Mts, Madagascar
Your classic caudiciform, perfect companion to Adenium/Ariocarpus
✨ Key Features
- Caudex: Round/globular bottle base, smooth pale grey/ivory, grows large with age
- Branches: Slender, few, paired short spines; narrower leaves than standard rosulatum
- Leaves: Dark green, narrow, pale midrib; deciduous in winter
- Flowers: Bright yellow, star‑shaped, summer/autumn (Jul–Oct) on long stalks
- Size: Slow; 30–90cm tall, caudex up to 30–50cm wide at maturity
- Sap: Milky white, toxic — wear gloves, avoid skin/eyes/pets
🪴 UK Care (Sheffield)
✅ Light: Full sun 6+hrs — south/west window; outdoors May–Sep (harden off slowly)
✅ Soil: Free‑draining mineral mix:
- 20% cactus compost + 60% grit/pumice + 20% coarse sand + pinch of lime
✅ Water: Soak‑and‑dry + strict dormancy
- Spring–Summer: Water deeply only when bone dry; drain fully
- Autumn: Reduce from Sep; stop once leaves fall
- Winter: COMPLETELY DRY; keep 10–15°C (50–59°F) minimum, never below 5°C
✅ Feed: Low‑nitrogen, high‑potash cactus feed ½ strength monthly Apr–Aug
✅ Pot: Deep pot for thick roots; repot only every 2–3 years — hates disturbance
✅ Pests: Mealybugs, scale; check caudex crevices and root ball
⚠️ Quick Notes
- Own‑root = best: Grafted grows faster but never develops a proper fat caudex
- Winter rule: No water + bright cool spot = no rot; wet = death
- Growth: Very slow — 5+ years for noticeable caudex thickening
Plant sent bare rooted
Photo taken June 2026
Plant 14cm tall
🪴 Pachypodium rosulatum var. gracilis (gracilius)
Common: Elephant’s Foot / Ivory Palace | Family: Apocynaceae | Origin: Isalo Mts, Madagascar
Your classic caudiciform, perfect companion to Adenium/Ariocarpus
✨ Key Features
- Caudex: Round/globular bottle base, smooth pale grey/ivory, grows large with age
- Branches: Slender, few, paired short spines; narrower leaves than standard rosulatum
- Leaves: Dark green, narrow, pale midrib; deciduous in winter
- Flowers: Bright yellow, star‑shaped, summer/autumn (Jul–Oct) on long stalks
- Size: Slow; 30–90cm tall, caudex up to 30–50cm wide at maturity
- Sap: Milky white, toxic — wear gloves, avoid skin/eyes/pets
🪴 UK Care (Sheffield)
✅ Light: Full sun 6+hrs — south/west window; outdoors May–Sep (harden off slowly)
✅ Soil: Free‑draining mineral mix:
- 20% cactus compost + 60% grit/pumice + 20% coarse sand + pinch of lime
✅ Water: Soak‑and‑dry + strict dormancy
- Spring–Summer: Water deeply only when bone dry; drain fully
- Autumn: Reduce from Sep; stop once leaves fall
- Winter: COMPLETELY DRY; keep 10–15°C (50–59°F) minimum, never below 5°C
✅ Feed: Low‑nitrogen, high‑potash cactus feed ½ strength monthly Apr–Aug
✅ Pot: Deep pot for thick roots; repot only every 2–3 years — hates disturbance
✅ Pests: Mealybugs, scale; check caudex crevices and root ball
⚠️ Quick Notes
- Own‑root = best: Grafted grows faster but never develops a proper fat caudex
- Winter rule: No water + bright cool spot = no rot; wet = death
- Growth: Very slow — 5+ years for noticeable caudex thickening
Plant sent bare rooted
Photo taken June 2026
Plant 14cm tall
