Beaucarnea recurvata - Elephant's foot

The Beaucarnea recurvata is one of those plants that can be recognized at first glance. With its trunk swollen at the base, which earned it the nickname of elephant's foot, and its crown of long, pendulous narrow leaves, it is one of the most visually striking plants. However, patience is required as its growth is very slow, but what a spectacle when the first flowering appears. A bouquet of small white flowers rises above the foliage, later evolving into equally aesthetic pink fruits. While its low hardiness and aversion to winter rains limit its planting in open ground to very mild regions, it performs extremely well in pots, allowing it to be sheltered indoors when the cold arrives. It can also be grown indoors.

The Beaucarna recurvata (synonym Nolina recurvata) belongs to the Ruscaceae family, which takes its name from Ruscus (Butcher's Broom), and whose most well-known members are probably Lily of the Valley, Dracaena, and the popular Sansevieria ("mother-in-law's tongue"). The Beaucarnea genus has 9 species, the most widespread being B. recurvata, native to Mexico. It grows in rocky, dry areas and forests, forming trees up to 9m (29ft 6in) tall, topped with a tuft of long, narrow leaves (1 to 2m (3ft 4in to 6ft 7in)) that are about 2cm (0.8in) wide. Their swollen trunk is an adaptation to drought in semi-arid climates. They are caudex plants, more precisely pachycaulous species, with a trunk resembling an "elephant's foot".

This plant can only truly thrive in frost-protected areas. An adult specimen can withstand -5°C in good conditions of well-drained soil to avoid excess water, as Beaucarnea dislikes winter humidity. This is why the dry winters of the Mediterranean coast suit it well. The exotic garden of Monaco houses a magnificent specimen with multiple trunks and an enlarged base, which blooms abundantly in summer and produces a cloud of small pink fruits in September.
Patience is necessary to obtain such a specimen, as Beaucarnea grows very slowly! You will have to wait for the trunk to reach 1m (3ft 4in) in height (which takes over 10 years of cultivation) to finally enjoy the flowering. The flowers develop as long, paniculate inflorescences (up to 1m (3ft 4in) long in mature specimens) of small white flowers (1.5cm (0.6in) in diameter) with 6 petals. These inflorescences form a vaporous mass above the vegetation and dominate the plant. The fruits that follow them measure about 1cm (0.4in) in diameter and have a lovely pink colour.
Fortunately, even without flowering, the plant is particularly decorative, especially when the base starts to swell and the cracked, grey bark imitates elephant skin. The very long dark green leaves tend to twist and gracefully hang on both sides of the trunk. They are very narrow (about 2cm (0.8in)), and their edges can be sharp to the touch so be careful and wear gloves! They are evergreen and give the Beaucarnea a truly aesthetic weeping appearance. It grows in well-drained, light soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH, in full sun, tolerating occasional light shade.

An inherently architectural plant, the Beaucarnea is unparalleled in creating an exotic ambiance and will be perfectly at home in a contemporary garden that emphasizes shapes rather than colours. A splendid houseplant, it can also be taken outside during the warmer seasons on a balcony or terrace. To create an atmosphere, you can pair it with other tender plants with distinctive forms, such as the superb Phoenix roebelinii, a dwarf palm with finely palmate leaves that are highly decorative year-round. The sculptural Cycas revoluta, or Japanese Sago Palm, with its geometrically-shaped tough leaves in a large bouquet, reminiscent of a palm tree, will also be a good companion, as well as a tree-like Aeonium such as Garnet, with its perfectly arranged rosettes of succulent dark red leaves.