Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Other Names:  Ponytail Palm, Bottle Palm

Description:

A stunning accent plant that develops a swollen base over time, under a rising tuft of narrow green leaves with creamy yellow margins that are tinged with red; water deeply but infrequently; protect from frost; better color in full sun

Ornamental Features

Gold Star Variegated Pony Tail Palm has attractive green foliage edged in buttery yellow with hints of red on a plant with an arching habit of growth. The glossy narrow leaves are highly ornamental and remain green throughout the winter. The smooth tan bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Gold Star Variegated Pony Tail Palm is a spreading evergreen shrub with a shapely form and gracefully arching branches. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Gold Star Variegated Pony Tail Palm is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Gold Star Variegated Pony Tail Palm will grow to be about 8 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 50 years or more.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Gold Star Variegated Pony Tail Palm makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception. Contact our experts for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.

This plant is not reliably hardy in our region, and certain restrictions may apply; contact the store for more information.