Pachypodium saundersii

Frost Tolerance: Semi tender in Phoenix, protect it on coldest nights, or keep it in container

Sun Exposure: Light shade to full sun.

Origin: South Africa

Growth Habits: Small, very slow growing caudiciform tree, typically 2 to 4 feet tall or less for any specimen of reasonable age

Watering Needs: Regular water in summer when the plant has leaves, in winter, keep dry, with only occasional water

Propagation: Seeds

Pachypodium saundersii is probably the easiest and fastest South African Pachypodium to grow. Many botanists consider it a subspecies of P lealii. Since it behaves somewhat differently in cultivation (different blooming season, speed of growth…) I just kept it here as a different species.

Blooming Habits:
P. saundersii has white flowers in the fall at the end of the summer growing season. They seem to need a cooler winter dormancy to bloom properly. They generally bloom at a younger age than other Pachypodiums, typically around 4-5 years old.

Culture:
This species is dormant in winter, keep it totally dry when leafless.