Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Other Names:  Pony Tail Palm, Elephant's Foot, Bottle Palm

Description:

A stunning plant that develops a swollen base over time, under rising tufts of narrow glossy leaves that emerge red, and retain redness at the base; water deeply but infrequently; protect from frost; an excellent variety that can be brought in for winter

Ornamental Features

Red Pony Tail Plant has attractive red-variegated green foliage with hints of coppery-bronze which emerges brick red in spring on a tree with a weeping habit of growth. The large glossy narrow leaves are highly ornamental and remain green throughout the winter. The smooth gray bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

Red Pony Tail Plant is an evergreen tree with a rounded form and gracefully weeping 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 tree, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Red Pony Tail Plant is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Red Pony Tail Plant will grow to be about 15 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 6 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. As it matures, the lower branches of this tree can be strategically removed to create a high enough canopy to support unobstructed human traffic underneath. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 80 years or more.

This tree 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 species is not originally from North America..

Red Pony Tail Plant is a fine choice for the yard, but it is also a good selection for planting 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.