Elephant's Foot - Beaucarnea: Growing and Care

Botany and description

The Elephant’s foot, also called Beaucarnea recurvata, belongs to the botanical family Asparagaceae, like garden asparagus or indoor asparagus fern. Its genus name, Beaucarnea, was given in honour of French botanist Jean-Baptiste Beaucarne, who was passionate about exotic plants. In French, this plant is commonly known by several names: Elephant’s foot, due to its swollen trunk resembling a massive leg, or Nolina, an old botanical name still sometimes used.

Young Beaucarnea: the trunk and foliage slowly thicken over the years

In its natural habitat, mainly in Mexico and some regions of Central America, the Beaucarnea grows in arid environments, often on rocky, well-drained soils. Its bulbous trunk, which acts as a water reservoir, allows it to survive long periods of drought, a perfect adaptation to these harsh conditions.

It’s precisely this water-storing capacity that makes it an ideal houseplant. Undemanding, it tolerates forgotten waterings and adapts well to bright interiors, with elegant trailing foliage that adds an exotic and decorative touch. Its slow growth and sculptural appearance appeal to both plant enthusiasts and interior decorators. The elephant’s foot can be planted directly in the ground on the French Riviera and Mediterranean coast in well-drained soil.

Among cultivated species and varieties, the most common is undoubtedly Beaucarnea recurvata, recognisable by its thick trunk and long, arching leaves. But other species, like Beaucarnea gracilis, with a more slender habit, or Beaucarnea stricta, with stiffer, upright leaves, are also cultivated, though rarer as houseplants.

The Beaucarnea, or Elephant’s foot, generally has an upright habit, with a massive trunk at the base that gradually tapers towards the top. Over the years, this trunk develops a rough, fissured appearance, enhancing its miniature baobab-like look.

The elephant’s foot lives up to its nickname

Its root system is relatively shallow but well spread out, allowing it to quickly absorb available water while remaining firmly anchored in the soil. This adaptation is particularly effective in its natural habitat where rains are rare and brief.

Branches only develop late, and even then, only in mature specimens or after pruning stimulates their appearance. In young plants, the trunk often remains single, topped with a tuft of long trailing leaves forming a cascade of greenery. These leaves, narrow and flexible, ranging from bright green to slightly bluish depending on growing conditions, grow in fine strips that can reach one metre in length. They give the plant a lightness and movement that contrasts with the trunk’s sturdiness.

In its natural environment or after many years of cultivation, the Beaucarnea may produce spectacular flowering. Large paniculate inflorescences appear at the top, composed of small cream-white to yellowish flowers. These slightly fragrant flowers attract many pollinators in their native environment. After pollination, the plant develops small, round, brownish dry fruits containing seeds. However, indoors, flowering remains exceptional and rarely observed.

In their natural habitat, Beaucarneas reach incredible sizes and trunk dimensions!

When and how to plant an Elephant's Foot in a pot?

The best time to plant or repot an elephant’s foot plant is in spring, when the plant resumes its growth. Repotting can also be done in summer if necessary, but it’s best to avoid autumn and winter, which are periods of dormancy.

Which growing medium to choose?

The elephant’s foot plant prefers a light, well-draining and low-organic soil, slightly acidic, similar to the arid environments where it grows naturally. An ideal mix consists of:

• 50% cactus and succulent compost,
• 30% coarse sand or perlite for good drainage,
• 20% garden soil or light universal compost.

To prevent waterlogging, it’s advisable to add a layer of clay pebbles or gravel at the bottom of the pot.

Where to place your elephant’s foot plant?

• Light: place it in a spot with bright light, near a well-exposed window (preferably south or west-facing). It tolerates some direct sunlight, but it’s best to avoid scorching rays in midsummer.
• Temperature: it thrives in moderate indoor temperatures, between 18 and 25°C, but can withstand drops to 10°C in winter.
• Humidity: it tolerates dry indoor air well and doesn’t require high humidity. There’s no need to mist its foliage.

Bright and sunny exposure is essential

Which pot to choose?

• Size: the pot should be slightly wider than the base of the trunk, but not too large or deep, as the elephant’s foot plant grows slowly and prefers being slightly root-bound.
• Material: a terracotta pot is ideal, as it allows better evaporation of moisture and reduces the risk of root rot. Ensure it has drainage holes to prevent excess water.

How to plant an elephant’s foot plant in a pot?

1. Prepare the pot: place a layer of clay pebbles or gravel at the bottom to improve drainage.
2. Fill with growing medium: add a mix of cactus compost and sand/perlite.
3. Position the plant: carefully remove the elephant’s foot plant from its pot and place it in the centre. Ensure the swollen base of the trunk isn’t buried; it should remain slightly above the growing medium.
4. Top up with growing medium: add more soil around the sides, lightly firming to stabilise the plant.
5. Water moderately: a light watering after planting is sufficient. Then, allow the soil to dry out completely before watering again.

Carefully prepare your well-draining growing medium, lightened with a drainage layer of clay pebbles

Repotting the elephant’s foot plant

The elephant’s foot plant grows slowly and only needs repotting every 3 to 4 years, when its roots completely fill the pot. To repot, follow the same steps as for planting, choosing a pot only slightly larger to avoid excess moisture. This is also an opportunity to refresh the growing medium, providing the plant with fresh, well-draining soil.

Repot when the roots have filled the entire pot

Planting a Beaucarnea in open ground

In the warmest regions where frosts are rare, Beaucarnea recurvata can be grown in open ground, provided the soil is perfectly drained. Excessive winter moisture, like heavy rainfall, could prove fatal. This is why outdoor cultivation is only feasible on the French Riviera, the Mediterranean coast, or in the far southwest of the territory.

Growing and caring for Beaucarnea

Watering

Watering should be spaced out and measured. In spring and summer, during its growth period, watering every 15 days or so is sufficient, allowing the substrate to dry out on the surface between waterings. In autumn and winter, when the plant enters dormancy, watering should be spaced out even more, sometimes to once a month, or even less in a cool environment. Too much water can lead to root and trunk rot, one of the main causes of failure with this plant.

Fertilisation

Regarding fertilisation, the Beaucarnea has no particular requirements. A monthly application of a low-nitrogen liquid fertiliser (such as Bonsai plant fertiliser) in spring and summer can be beneficial to stimulate its growth, but it’s best not to overfeed the plant. Excessive nutrients could promote excessive foliage development at the expense of the trunk and swollen base.

Pruning

Pruning is generally not necessary, but it can be done if you wish to encourage branching. Cutting the tip of the trunk or young shoots can stimulate the appearance of new branches, although the Beaucarnea naturally has slow growth and tends to remain single-stemmed for many years.

Precautions

However, the elephant’s foot plant is sensitive to cold draughts and excessive ambient humidity. Finally, as its leaves are long and thin, they can accumulate dust; regular cleaning with a damp cloth or a light shower helps maintain healthy and attractive foliage.

Low maintenance for the Elephant’s Foot, apart from trimming dried tips

Possible diseases and parasitic pests

Disease

The main enemy of the Beaucarnea indoors is excess moisture, which promotes root and trunk rot. If the substrate remains waterlogged for too long, the swollen base may become soft, a sign of a fungal attack. In this case, it is essential to drastically reduce watering, repot the plant in a well-draining substrate and, if necessary, apply a fungicidal treatment.

Finally, a Beaucarnea that loses its leaves en masse or has browned tips usually suffers from a watering issue (too much or too little), an atmosphere that’s too dry, or a lack of light. Fortunately, correcting the growing conditions is often enough to restore its health.

Parasitic Pests

Among parasitic pests, mealybugs and scale insects are the most common. They nest under the leaves or on the trunk, forming small cottony masses or hard brown patches. Their presence weakens the plant and causes yellowing of the foliage. To get rid of them, manual cleaning with a cloth soaked in 70° alcohol, followed by a treatment with black soap is effective.

Spider mites may also appear when the air is too dry, especially in winter with heating. They cause gradual yellowing and drying of the leaves. Increasing ambient humidity by spraying with non-calcareous water often helps limit their development.

Propagation of Beaucarnea

Propagating a Beaucarnea recurvata isn’t always easy, but there are two main methods: sowing seeds and propagation by cuttings of offsets, although the latter is more delicate.

Sowing

Sowing seeds is the most common method, although germination requires patience. The seeds must be fresh and soaked for 24 hours in lukewarm water before being sown in a light, well-draining substrate composed of compost and sand. It’s important to maintain a temperature around 25°C and constant humidity without waterlogging the substrate. Germination can take several weeks to several months. Once the young plants appear, they should be gradually acclimatised to normal growing conditions.

Note! Harvesting seeds from Beaucarnea is rare indoors, as the plant takes several decades to flower and requires cross-pollination between a male and female plant. If fertilisation is successful, it produces small dry fruits containing seeds, which should be harvested once fully ripe and dry before being sown.

Propagation by cuttings

Propagation by cuttings of offsets is an option if the mother plant produces them, which isn’t always the case indoors. These offsets, which grow at the base of the trunk, can be removed with a sharp knife when they reach sufficient size (about 10 cm). It’s advisable to let them dry for a few hours to avoid infections before planting them in a slightly moist sandy substrate. Adding a rooting activator may improve the chances of rooting, but the process remains unpredictable and success isn’t guaranteed.

In any case, Beaucarnea growth is very slow, so you’ll need to be patient before obtaining a plant of appreciable size.

How to showcase a Ponytail Palm?

The Elephant’s Foot (Beaucarnea recurvata) fits perfectly into modern, minimalist, bohemian or exotic interiors, thanks to its sculptural appearance and trailing foliage. Its swollen trunk and elegant silhouette make it an ideal centrepiece for a pared-back décor or a nature-inspired space. It also finds its place in industrial settings, paired with metal and raw wood, or in a zen interior, alongside stones and natural materials.

To showcase it, it’s preferable to choose a terracotta pot, which promotes moisture evaporation and enhances its desert-like character. Raw concrete pots, matte ceramic or woven wicker baskets also add an interesting aesthetic touch. For an even more decorative effect, you can place it in a large natural fibre planter or on a pedestal to accentuate its slender habit.

In a large open terrarium, with sand, stones and other desert plants like cacti or succulents, it can create a stunning arid-inspired composition.

The Elephant’s Foot thrives in various settings: placed on the floor, on a side table, near a window…