Elephant's foot / Bottle tree

Seeds: 10  / Botanical name: Beaucarnea recurvata

Easy-care inhabitant of the dry regions of Mexico

The elephant's foot tree owes its name to its trunk, which is thickened and rounded at the base, and its bark, which resembles elephant hide. It bears delicate, densely growing, overhanging, dark green, and firm leaves that can reach up to one meter in height and transpire very little water. Because of its characteristic trunk thickening, it is also called the bottle tree or bottle palm. In its native habitat, it must endure scorching sun and long periods of drought and can store enormous amounts of water in its trunk. The elephant's foot tree is easy to cultivate indoors.

natural habitat is in the southern United States, especially in Texas, and in the arid regions of Mexico.