Pachypodium saundersii

Pachypodium saundersii

You will receive this exact specimen.
Measures 7" tall.
Showcased here in one-of-a-kind handmade pottery (sold separately).
Will be shipped bare root.

Pachypodium saundersii, also known as the Kudu Lily or Bottle Tree, is a succulent shrub native to southern Africa. It is characterized by its swollen, bottle-like trunk which stores water, and its dense covering of paired, sharp thorns and glossy green leaves. 

Key features:

• Trunk: Swollen, pot-bellied stem-succulent.
• Branches: Erect, thick at the base tapering rapidly, densely spiny.
• Leaves: Dark green, shiny, oblanceolate, obovate to obovate-elliptic, typically 25–80 mm long.
• Flowers: Terminal clusters of large, showy, white flowers tinged with pink to purple on the outside and greenish inside, flowering mainly in autumn. Pollinated by moths and thus long and tubular in shape.
• Fruit: Twin, horn-like cylindrical follicles.
• Dormancy: Winter deciduous, keep dry when leafless.
• Habitat: Open, sunny and stony woodlands, often in rock crevices on exposed granite rock sheets. 

Cultivation:

• Light: Partial shade to full sun, requires at least 3 hours of direct sunlight daily.
• Watering: Water moderately during the growing season (spring and summer), allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Keep dry during winter dormancy. Pachypodiums need to go mostly dry between waterings, but not completely dry when actively growing, or they may drop their leaves.
• Soil: Use a well-draining soil mix, such as a cactus or succulent mix. Adding pumice or perlite can improve drainage.
• Temperature: Can be grown warm year-round, but can also tolerate a winter rest period around 15°C (59°F). Protect from frost and temperatures below 10°C (50°F).
• Feeding: Fertilize from spring to fall with a diluted liquid fertilizer or controlled-release fertilizer. Avoid over-fertilization.
• Pruning: Prune in spring or summer to shape the plant and encourage branching. Be careful of the sap, which can cause skin irritation.
• Propagation: Best propagated by seeds, which should be sown in a warm, moist, well-draining medium and kept at 27-35°C for germination. Can also be propagated by cuttings taken in spring or summer.
• Other: Toxic to pets and humans if ingested. The sap can cause skin irritation. 

Note: Pachypodium saundersii is considered an easier and faster-growing species of Pachypodium. Some botanists consider it a subspecies of Pachypodium lealii. The species name honors Sir Charles James Renault Saunders, a plant collector who collected the first specimen in Natal, South Africa.