Ponytail Palm

Ponytail palms aren’t actually palms at all, and are more closely related to lilies, but need the kind of care you’d give a cactus or succulent. Maybe it’s less confusing to stick with the scientific name of this native of southeastern Mexico, Beaucarnea recurvata, or one of the other common names, elephant-foot plant or bottle plant.

While ponytail palms can reach heights of 20 feet or more in the outdoors, they are also often grown as a bonsai specimens. They may produce flower stalks in the summer when grown outdoors. Under normal conditions indoors, though, they probably won’t flower, or reach more than about 3 feet tall.

The quirky ponytail palm tree is an elementary house plant that doesn’t harm your pets at all. It has a substantial base, so the trunk can store water for long periods. This plant is an excellent pick for someone who forgets to water houseplants on a regular schedule. These plants regrow their leaf sprawls very easily, so if you have a few bitten off, you can bet they’ll regrow beautifully in no time.

Appearance: Thick base, winding leaves, green color
Light Requirements: Bright sun
Difficulty: Easy