pachypodium succulent Buy Pachypodium namaquanum Online

pachypodium succulent Buy Pachypodium namaquanum OnlineThe Nama people of South Africa called Pachypodium namaquanum halfmens, meaning half a man. Legend says an exiled group was turned into the plants that dot the Namaqualand hills, each one leaning north as if still looking home. This South African native looks a lot like the Madagascar Palm, except from a vastly different habitat far across the Indian Ocean. Whether these two plants evolved to look remarkably similar or represent the sole survivors of

The Nama people of South Africa called Pachypodium namaquanum “halfmens,” meaning half a man. Legend says an exiled group was turned into the plants that dot the Namaqualand hills, each one leaning north as if still looking home. This South African native looks a lot like the Madagascar Palm, except from a vastly different habitat far across the Indian Ocean. Whether these two plants evolved to look remarkably similar or represent the sole survivors of a lineage that stretched across a former supercontinent is a mystery, but they look almost indistinguishable to the naked eye. To the seasoned collector, this species differs dramatically with its stout habit, textured foliage with a crinkled margin, longer spines, and slow-as-nails growing speed. In habitat they stay mostly leafless for most of the year, but in cultivation they fall into an odd cycle with two active periods and two dormancies. We recommend watering when they’re in leaf and keeping them completely dry when they aren’t. Our offerings consist of chunky little seedlings of this iconic inhabitant of the especially arid Richtersveld region directly around the border between Namibia and South Africa.