Madagascar Palm (Pachypodium lamerei) / Mid-Century Banded Cast Concrete Planter / Original Weathered White Patina

MADAGASCAR PALM

Pachypodium lamerei

Specifications

• Height: 1800mm

• Concrete Planter: 550mm

• Inclusions: Price includes delivery and professional installation.

Planted in an Australian mid-century, banded cast concrete planter with fossilised rocks and gravel to finish. Exposed caudex.

ARCHITECTURAL FORM & HERITAGE

Native to the arid, rocky landscapes of southern Madagascar, the Madagascar Palm (Pachypodium lamerei) is a striking, highly sculptural succulent. Despite its common name, it is not a true palm at all. Instead, it is defined by its dramatic, silver-grey, water-storing trunk (caudex) which is heavily armed with sharp, conical spines. This robust base gives way to a lush, contrasting crown of long, leathery, dark green leaves. A slow-growing architectural succulent, mature outdoor specimens can reach up to 6 metres over many decades and may occasionally reward their growers with large, fragrant, white trumpet-shaped flowers in the summer. 

PLACEMENT & LIGHT

A true sun-lover, this plant requires high light levels to maintain a thick trunk and a full canopy of leaves. Please contact us prior to buying if you want to place indoors so we can assess suitability.

• Indoors: Position in the brightest space available. A spot that receives several hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight (such as near a north or west-facing window) is essential for it to thrive indoors.

• Outdoors: Thrives best in full sun. Heat and intense light encourage vigorous summer growth and a dense crown of foliage.

SEASONAL CARE & WATERING

Cultivating Pachypodium lamerei requires a strict "drench and drought" approach, mimicking the intense wet and dry seasons of its native Madagascar.

• Indoors: Water thoroughly every 10–14 days from late spring to early autumn, allowing the soil to dry out completely between waterings. In winter, its water requirements plummet—reduce watering to a light trickle once every 4–6 weeks, just enough to prevent the trunk from visibly shriveling. Always empty drainage saucers immediately.

• Outdoors: Water deeply every 1–2 weeks during intense summer heat, ensuring the planter is filled with a highly porous, fast-draining soil mix. Keep the soil almost entirely entirely dry during winter to prevent root rot.

• Note on Botanical Behaviour: The Madagascar Palm is deciduous. It is entirely normal for the plant to turn yellow and drop most or all of its leaves as temperatures drop and days shorten in late autumn and winter. It will rest as a striking, spiky architectural column before pushing out a brand new crown of foliage in the spring.

NOURISHMENT & FERTILIZING

To fuel its summer growth phase without burning its sensitive roots, nourish carefully. Apply a low-dose, controlled-release fertilizer specifically formulated for cacti and succulents at the onset of spring and again in mid-summer. Cease all feeding completely during autumn and winter while the plant is dormant.

DELIVERY & LOGISTICS

Please contact us prior to purchase if there are any major barriers to delivery at your property (including stairs, narrow corridors, or lift size constraints). Due to the heavily spined trunk and significant weight of these architectural pieces, they require specialist handling to ensure safe delivery and installation, which may incur increased delivery costs.