Both Pachypodium lamerei and P. geayi look the same when young. They have straight vertical trunks with robust, numerous straight spines.They are distinguished by their leaves. The leaves of P. geayii are more grey and sword-like. The P. lamerei has bright green oval leaves. The single trunk can grow to be very tall, reaching 2-3 meters, while the base of the trunk takes on a vase shape. They are very exotic plants when big.


Grey Leaves of Pachypodium geayii	Green Leaves of Pachypodium lamerei

Eventually, these Pachypodiums may branch. However you can get them to branch when young by cutting the top off. When the fleshy wound on top of the stem hardens, new stems will grow from around the edges of the top of the trunk. These two species are also less sensitive to overwatering and humid climates. So, they are often used as grafting stock for more prone species such as P. brevicaule. There is also a cresting form of P. lamerei that is usually grafted on top of a P. lamerei normal form trunk.


P. lamerei used as base for P. brevicaule	P. lamerei used as base for P. lamerei crest

This species tends to grow close to the ground. It spreads out horizontally rather than vertically, although it may have branches up to one meter long. Pachypodium lealii is rarely seen. However, P. saundsersii is fairly common in the market place and has a couple different varieties. The most common variety has the longer stems, which can be trimmed to enhance the base. The rarer variety, called P. saundersii v. compactum, has very short stems and a caudex that can spread very wide. This species is active during the summer months. With regular water they will extend their branches rapidly. They normally flower white at the end of summer and then go dormant through fall and winter. During shutdown watering should be kept to a minimum.


Pachypodium lealii	Pachypodium saundersii normal form	Pachypodium saundersii v. compactum

Pachypodium brevicaule is the most unique of all Pachypodium species. It doesn't have conventional stems and just remains as a mound of stunted nodules. This central Madagascar can be found growing in rock crevices. It is a very slow growing species.


Pachypodium brevicaule with spines	Pachypodium brevicaule without spines

It is one of the more difficult species to grow because it is sensitive to over watering as well as doesn't like the soil to be completely dry. It is best to plant it in a fast draining gravel mix and mist frequently with a spray bottle.

Pachypodium brevicaule is rarely seen at cactus and succulent club plant sales. Typically, only small seedlings, 1-2 inches (3-6cm), will be offered. Most of these will have spines, which we have been told are hybrids. On rare occasion, larger specimens ranging in size from 4 to 8 (12-24cm) inches wide will be offered. These are usually plants rescued from their native habitat in Madagascar. Because of the popularity and rarity of this species, they will be offered at a premium price. A nice clumping six inch (18cm) specimen is not uncommon to be offered in the $300 range.


Small Pachypodium brevicaule	Pachypodium brevicaule flower	Pachypodium brevicaule Medium Size

Pachypodium brevicaule Medium Large	Pachypodium brevicaule Texture Close Up	Medium Sized P. brevicaule priced at $100

These three species were grouped together because of their similar growth form. They grow a squat base with many short branches. They differ from P. saundersii in that the overall plant tends to be smaller, the branches grow shorter, and the epidermis (skin) tends to be highly textured and colorful. They differ from P. lamerei and P. geayi in that those species are columnar (verticle) growing, whereas these are more prostrate (horizontal) growing.

The differences between these three species, P. rosulatum, P. horombense, and P. densiflorum are just in the mature size, spine density, and flower petal shape. P. rosulatum has the shortest branches, followed by P. densiflorum. P. horombense has thick spiny horizontal branches and can grow to be one meter wide. Like P. brevicaule, the cultivated plants tend to have more spines; the wild collected plants have smooth exteriors.


Pachypodium densiflorum Wild Collected	Pachypodium densiflorum Flowers	Pachypodium densiflorum v. brevicalyx

Pachypodium horombense	Pachypodium horombense branch close up	Pachypodium rosulatum cultivated

Pachypodium rosulatum v. gracilis 1	Pachypodium rosulatum v. gracilis 2	Pachypodium rosulatum crest


	Pachypodium namaquanum Pachypodium namaquanum is a vertical succulent plant similar P. lamerei. However it differs significantly in canopy type, branching habit, flowers, epidermis color, type location, environment, and rareness.

Pachypodium succulentum and bispinosum differ only in their flower and body color. They differ from other Pachypodium species the caudex grows to be very fat and shaped like a ball. There are no spines on the caudex, and only a few spines on the branches. These two species are rarely offered by growers.


Pachypodium succulentum Extra Large	Pachypodium succulentum Extra large base

P. succulentum has a light pink or white flower with deep pink mid-stripe on the petals. P. bispinosum has light pink flowers with a pink throat.

Pachypodium Comparison Table

Here is a summary table comparing the different species of pachypodium by six criteria: Mature size, origin, growth characteristics, availablity, spine density, and flower type.

Pachypodium species name	Mature Size	Origin	Growth Type	Availablity	Spine Density	Flower Type
Bispinosum	4 feet tall (1.2 m)	South Africa (Port Elizabeth)	Slow	Rare	Sparse	light pink flowers with a pink throat
Brevicaule	12 inches in diameter (30 cm), 6 inches tall (15 cm)	South-central Madagascar	Extremely Slow	Rare	Sparse	Large Bright Yellow
Densiflorum	3 Feet (1 meter) tall	Madagascar	Slow	Rare	Sparse	Large Bright Yellow
Geayi	13 feet tall (4 m)	Southwestern Madagascar	Fast	Common	Dense	The flowers are white with yellow throat
Horombense			Slow	Rare	Dense
Lamerei	8 feet tall (2.4 m)	Madagascar	Fast	Common	Dense	white with yellow center
Lealii	2 to 4 feet tall	South Africa	Slow	Rare	Dense	white
Namaquanum	10 feet (3 m)	Namibia, South Africa	Extremely Slow	Available but expensive	Dense	petals have dark red tips
Rosulatum	3 Feet (1 meter) tall	Madagascar	Slow	Rare	Sparse, short	Yellow, spring
Saundersii	2 to 4 feet tall, base up to 2 feet wide.	South Africa	Fast in Summer	Common	Dense	white flowers in the fall at the end of the summer growing season.
Succulentum	caudex up to 8 inches wide (25 cm)	Wide spread inSouth Africa	Slow	Rare	Sparse	White with pink stripes

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