Madagascar palm Pachypodium lamerei
Madagascar palm (Pachypodium lamerei) is a deciduous perennial shrub in the Apocynaceae family, native to Southern Madagascar (dry spiny forest). It grows 1.5–4 m (4.9–13 ft) tall and 80 cm–1.5 m (31 in–4.9 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about 5 °C (41 °F). Space plants about 1.2 m (3.9 ft) apart.
Plan Madagascar palm in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Madagascar palm at a glance
| Type | Perennial shrub, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Apocynaceae |
| Mature height | 1.5–4 m (4.9–13 ft) |
| Mature spread | 80 cm–1.5 m (31 in–4.9 ft) |
| Spacing | 1.2 m (3.9 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 7 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 6–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About 5 °C (41 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 11) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 44 °C (111 °F) |
| Flowering | from about June for 4–9 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Southern Madagascar (dry spiny forest) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇺🇸 United States |
Is Madagascar palm toxic?
- People: severely toxic
- Cats: severely toxic
- Dogs: severely toxic
- Parts: sap, all parts
Cardiac glycosides in the latex; spines injure.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Madagascar palm
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
See Madagascar palm in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley (2 plants)
- Gardens by the Bay (3 plants)
- Desert Botanical Garden (4 plants)
- Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden (4 plants)
- Kirstenbosch (3 plants)
- Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro (3 plants)
- Na ʻĀina Kai Botanical Gardens (2 plants)
- Jardin botanique de Montréal (1 plants)
Questions about Madagascar palm
- How far apart should I plant Madagascar palm?
- About 1.2 m (3.9 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 80 cm–1.5 m (31 in–4.9 ft).
- Does Madagascar palm need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 7 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Madagascar palm need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Madagascar palm?
- It tolerates about 5 °C (41 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 11.
- When does Madagascar palm flower?
- From about June for 4–9 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Madagascar palm poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is severely toxic; for dogs severely toxic; for people severely toxic. Cardiac glycosides in the latex; spines injure.
- What grows well with Madagascar palm?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Madagascar palm. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
Notes and assumptions
- Tropical: outdoors only where frost never occurs; elsewhere under heated glass.
- Not a palm: a spiny, swollen stem succulent crowned by a tuft of leaves; drops leaves in the dry season.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Oleander Nerium oleander
- Frangipani (plumeria) Plumeria rubra
- Butterfly weed Asclepias tuberosa
- Madagascar periwinkle Catharanthus roseus
- Star jasmine Trachelospermum jasminoides
- Mandevilla Mandevilla sanderi
- Lesser periwinkle Vinca minor
- Jelutong Dyera costulata