Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Ponytail Palm
Ponytail Palm is not a true palm but a slow-growing relative of yucca. It has a swollen, elephant-foot base that stores water and a mop of long, slender leaves that arch like a ponytail. It makes a showy accent in a large pot, a courtyard, a pool area or a tropical-look bed. In the Valley it grows much smaller than in the tropics, and it does best with protection from hot western sun.
Best for: large pots, courtyards and entries, pool areas and spots by fountains, and tropical-look beds out of the western sun.
It grows slowly and does well in large containers for years. Use a pot with a drainage hole and fast-draining, sandy soil.
In Phoenix it does best in a protected spot with no western or southern sun, such as a sheltered courtyard. An entry on the east or north side of the house also keeps it out of the harshest sun.
Its fountain of arching leaves suits pool areas, fountains, ponds and tropical-look plantings, where it adds height without spines.
Hot western sun and temperatures over 110°F stress it, and it can be badly damaged below about 20°F. Water sitting around the roots, or salty soil, can harm it.
- Plant to plant5 ft apart
In Phoenix, give it regular deep water in summer. Water less the rest of the year, and never let water sit around the roots.
Plant it where it gets partial sun or shade, with no western or southern sun. Temperatures over 110°F stress it, so a protected spot helps.
It is frost tender and can be badly damaged below about 20°F. On freeze nights, cover it with frost cloth or move pots next to the house.
Little to no pruning is needed. Remove dead leaves as they appear.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
Is a ponytail palm a real palm?
No. It looks like a palm but is closely related to yucca. The swollen base stores water for dry times.
How big does a ponytail palm get in Phoenix?
It grows slowly, to about 10 to 15 feet tall in the Valley, much smaller than in the tropics. In a pot it stays smaller still.
Does it need shade in Phoenix?
Yes, some. It does best in partial sun to shade here, with no western or southern sun. Plant it in a protected spot like a sheltered courtyard.
How often should I water it?
In Phoenix, give it regular deep water in summer. Water less the rest of the year, and never let water sit around the roots.
How cold can it take?
This plant is frost tender. Cold ratings run from about 30°F down to 20°F, and it can be badly damaged below 20°F. Cover it or move pots to shelter on freeze nights.
Is it poisonous to dogs or cats?
It is listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Still, keep pets from chewing on any plant.
Does it flower?
It rarely flowers in Arizona. Only large, older plants send up upright clusters of creamy white flowers, usually in early summer.
Can it grow in a pot?
Yes. It is a common container plant and does well in a large pot with fast-draining, sandy soil and a drainage hole.
Does it need pruning?
It needs very little pruning. Just remove dead leaves as they appear.
Why are the leaf tips turning brown?
It is sensitive to salty soil and to water sitting around the roots, and hot western sun also stresses it. Check drainage and move it out of harsh afternoon sun.
Ponytail Palm for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Ponytail Palm is a yucca relative from southeastern Mexico, grown for its swollen base and fountain of slender leaves. Below is what to expect from it in the Valley, from sun and water to size, frost and pots.
Sourced from trusted Arizona growers and delivered directly to your door, job site, or property. We deliver across the Valley and to nearby towns, and quote delivery anywhere else in Arizona.
Does a ponytail palm need shade in Phoenix?
It does best in partial sun to shade in Phoenix, with no western or southern sun. A sheltered courtyard is a good spot.
How big does a ponytail palm get in Arizona?
It grows slowly to about 10 to 15 feet tall in the Valley, smaller than in the tropics. The base swells with age like an elephant's foot.
How often do you water a ponytail palm in Phoenix?
Give it regular deep water in summer and less the rest of the year. Fast-draining soil matters, since it should never sit in water.
Is a ponytail palm frost hardy?
No, it is frost tender. It can be badly damaged below about 20°F. Cover it or move pots to shelter on freeze nights.
Is a ponytail palm good by a pool?
It suits pool areas, fountains and courtyards as a tropical-look accent. It has no spines and drops little litter.
Growing a ponytail palm in a pot
It is a classic container plant. Use a large pot with a drainage hole and sandy, fast-draining soil, and keep it out of hot western sun.
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