Madagascar Palm

Name: Madagascar Palm
Brand: MyGreenScape
SKU: PL0289S
Price: 20.0 CAD
Availability: OutOfStock

Madagascar Palm

$20

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Size 4" Pot - Small

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About This Plant

Madagascar Palm (Pachypodium lamerei) is a succulent from the region of southern Madagascar. Despite its name, it is not a palm. It grows a thick, grey, spiny trunk that stores water, topped with a rosette of narrow, glossy green leaves.

Full sun is all it needs to thrive.

Place it within a metre of a south-facing window and it holds its shape for years with minimal attention. A bright sunlit spot in an Ontario or Quebec home keeps the trunk thick and the leaf rosette full. The Agave Blue Glow is another bold architectural succulent for sunny windows.

Keep it away from pets and children.

Not listed on the ASPCA toxic or non-toxic plant database for the genus Pachypodium. The sap is a skin irritant and the sharp spines are a physical hazard. Keep it out of reach of pets and small children and wear gloves when moving or repotting it.

It drops its leaves in winter and grows them back in spring.

The Madagascar Palm enters a true winter dormancy each year, losing most or all of its leaves from around October. This is normal and not a sign the plant is dying. New leaf growth appears from the top of the trunk in spring.

Things to Know Before You Buy

Winter Dormancy

Madagascar Palm enters true dormancy from around October through March. It drops most or all of its leaves, stops growing, and needs almost no water. Cut watering to once every three to four weeks at most. Do not fertilize until the new leaf growth appears in spring.

Toxicity

Not listed in the ASPCA toxic or non-toxic plant database (Pachypodium spp.). Toxicity to cats and dogs cannot be confirmed from ASPCA data. The sap causes skin irritation and the spines are sharp. Keep out of reach of pets and small children as a precaution.

Pests

Mealybugs are the most common pest on Madagascar Palm, collecting in the leaf bases and at the joints between the trunk and the leaf cluster. Scale insects can attach to the trunk itself and are easy to miss against the grey, spiny bark.

Other Plants You Might Like

Not sure this is the right fit? Here are three other plants our Canadian customers love. All ship across Canada and thrive in Canadian homes.

Ponytail Palm. Sculptural and evergreen.

For the same architectural trunk shape without the winter dormancy or leaf drop, the Ponytail Palm stays green year-round and handles a sunny Canadian window just as well.

Cactus Mix. Desert tough.

For a collection of low-water, full-sun plants in a compact form, the Cactus Mix brings desert texture without the spiny trunk maintenance.

Snake Plant. Structural and low maintenance.

If you want a bold, upright form that handles a wider range of light conditions, the Snake Plant is one of the most reliable structural plants for Canadian homes.

Common Questions

Why did my Madagascar Palm drop all its leaves?

Leaf drop in autumn and winter is normal dormancy behaviour for this plant. It sheds its leaves as light levels fall and temperatures drop, which happens naturally in Canadian homes from October onward. Keep it in your brightest window, reduce watering to once every three to four weeks, and wait. New growth will emerge from the tip of the trunk in spring.

How often should I water it in a Canadian winter?

Once every three to four weeks at most during dormancy. The trunk stores water and the plant has almost no active growth from October to March. Overwatering in winter is the fastest way to kill a Madagascar Palm. Check that the soil is completely dry before watering, and when in doubt, wait another week. Our indoor plant watering guide explains how to check soil moisture before watering.

Is Madagascar Palm toxic to cats and dogs?

Pachypodium spp. is not listed in the ASPCA toxic or non-toxic plant database, so its safety around pets cannot be confirmed. The sap causes skin irritation on contact and the trunk spines are a sharp physical hazard. Keep it somewhere cats, dogs, and small children cannot reach.

Why is the trunk going soft at the base?

A soft or mushy base is root rot, almost always caused by overwatering or sitting in water. If caught early, remove the plant from its pot, cut away any black or mushy roots, let the trunk dry out for a few days, and repot into fresh dry succulent mix with good drainage. Prevention is easier than recovery: always let the soil dry out completely between waterings.

Can I put it on my balcony in summer?

Yes. Madagascar Palm thrives outside on a sunny Ontario or Quebec balcony from late May through September. Full sun is ideal. Bring it back inside before temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius, usually early to mid October. The transition to outdoor sun should be gradual to prevent leaf scorch if the plant has been indoors all winter.

How to Take Care of Madagascar Palm

Good to Know

Sun: Direct

Needs at least six hours of direct sun daily. A south-facing window is the minimum. Without enough direct sun, the trunk stretches thin and growth becomes weak and leggy.

Light: Full sun, south-facing window

A south-facing window in an Ontario or Quebec home is the right spot year-round. From October to February, keep it as close to the glass as possible without touching cold pane. North or east-facing windows do not give enough light.

Water: When soil is completely dry

Water thoroughly until it drains, then wait for the soil to dry out completely. Every two to three weeks in spring and summer, once every three to four weeks in winter. Never let it sit in standing water. When in doubt, wait another week before watering.

Humidity: Dry air preferred

Thrives in the low humidity produced by forced-air heating in Canadian homes in winter. No humidifier or misting needed. Average winter humidity in Ontario and Quebec homes suits it well.

Pet Friendly: Not confirmed, keep out of reach

Not listed in the ASPCA database. Safety around pets cannot be confirmed. The sap irritates skin and the spines are a physical hazard. Keep it somewhere pets and small children cannot reach.

Pro Tip

Madagascar Palm flowers and grows more vigorously when slightly root-bound. Repotting into a larger container too soon encourages root rot because extra soil holds moisture the plant does not need. Only move it up one pot size at a time, and always use a well-draining succulent or cactus mix.

What To Expect

Shipping and Delivery Details

Choose local GTA delivery, free Richmond Hill pickup, or shipping across Canada. Pick your delivery or pickup date at checkout, we'll have it ready and fresh for you. See full shipping and delivery details.

30-Day Happy Plant Guarantee

If your plant arrives damaged or isn't healthy, contact us within 30 days with a photo. We'll send a replacement or a full refund, and we cover return shipping.

View our complete guarantee policy

Frequently Asked Questions

Certainly! If you're pondering about ordering plants online, you're not alone. We've compiled the most frequently asked questions. Check out our FAQ section here for quick answers! Happy planting!

Plant and Pot Size Guide

4" Pot (Small): plant is approx. 6-10 inches tall. 6" Pot (Medium): approx. 12-18 inches tall. All plants come in a standard nursery pot. Decorative pots are sold separately.

Winter Shipping Protection

Between November and March, you can add Winter Shipping Protection at checkout. It adds insulated packaging and heat packs to protect your plant from the cold in transit. Cold damage is only covered if it's added to your order.

You can add winter shipping protection at checkout.

Returns Policy

If your plant arrives damaged, has pests, or starts to decline within 30 days, we'll send a replacement or a full refund, and we cover return shipping.

Change of mind, repotted or trimmed plants, and cold damage without Winter Shipping Protection aren't covered. See our full Return Policy

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