Description
Pachypodium bispinosum comes from South Africa. Its pear-shaped swelling is actually an underground stem, up to 60 cm tall and 20 cm thick, which in the wild is usually entirely buried. You can, however, show off its rough, decorative surface by leaving part of it above the soil in the pot. The plant stores water in this underground stem, so it can easily survive long periods of unfavourable conditions such as drought.
Thin branches armed with spines 1–2 cm long grow from the tuber. The shoots reach up to 1.2 m in length and bear dark green leaves.
Pale pink flowers appear from June to December.
Requirements
The plant grows best in full sun but also tolerates light shade.
Care
Protect it from cold, and especially from frost. In summer water moderately; from November to March practically stop watering. In winter pachypodium is dormant and is best kept at about 4°C.