Pachypodium rosulatum gracilis - Isalo Elephants Foot - 5 Seed Pack - Madagascan Succulent - NEW

Pachypodium is a genus of caudiciform succulents placed in the Apocynaceae family. Many of the species produce spectacular flowers. They exhibit a wide range of bizarre growth forms, from bottle-, cigar- or candelabrum-shaped trees to dwarf plants with very short stalks. Sizes range from a few centimetres above the soil to heights of more than 8 m. In southern Africa, the mystical elephant's trunk or halfmens (Pachypodium namaquanum) is probably the best known and rarest member of the genus. Pachypodium is closely related to Adenium but distinguished from it in that the stipules at the base of the leaves are developed into long rigid spines.

Pachypodiums are characteristically plants of hotter, drier regions of southern Africa and Madagascar where they reach maximum diversity in terms of numbers of species. Most species grow well in pots and rockeries. Larger species like Pachypodium geayi and Pachypodium lamerei make excellent landscaping plants too.

Pachypodium rosulatum gracilis commonly known as Isalo Elephants Foot is a small, very nice caudiciform succulent which forms smooth bodies with branches of lightly spiny stems and thin, dark green foliage. This is one of the most handsome Pachypodiums and easy in cultivation. Pachypodium rosulatum v. gracilis is a succulent, dwarf shrub. Mature plants are irregularly lobed with short, thick, tapered branches dividing again near the tips to form a coral-like crown usually shorter than 1 m, but wider than 2 m. The base becomes smooth and the upper half remains covered with sharp but weak conical spines. The sessile leaves are pubescent and paler green below. The name means rosetted, presumably referring to the tufts of leaves. It is the most widespread species in Madagascar where it is found along almost the entire length of the island. It grows in full sun in pockets of humus or in rock crevices and the yellow flowers are borne in spring. Flowering terminates the longitudinal growth, causing the plant to branch after each flowering event.