Theselectedpot-belliedplants— distinguishedbytheirthick, swollenstems,trunksorroots— offerjustaglimpseofthediverse desertflorathatcanthriveina desertgarden.Thesevarietiesare typicallyavailableatthe Garden'splantsalesandexhibit remarkableresiliencetoheatand droughtconditions.
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Pot-belliedplantsarewonderfulcuriosities characterizedbytheiruniqueswollenstems, trunksorroots.Whiletheyareoften succulents,theycanalsobefoundacross variousplantforms.Theirswollenstructure enablesthemtostorewaterduringdry spells,showcasingaremarkableadaptation forsurvival.Incorporatingtheseplantsinto yourgardenaddsadistinctivetouch,and evenifspaceislimited,theyadaptwellto containergardening.
Pot-belliedplants,knownascaudiciformsor pachycauls,haveuniquecharacteristics.Caudiciforms featureacaudex,aswollenstemorrootthatstores waterandnutrients,oftenvisibleaboveground.In contrast,pachycaulspossessthickenedtrunksor stemsthataretypicallywoodyandcontinuous, resemblingtreeswithexaggeratedproportions.
Pot-belliedplantsarenaturallycharacterizedby theirdistinctiveforms,witheachspecimenbeing one-of-a-kind notwoareidentical.Their uniquegrowthpatternsbringanelementof surpriseandadmirationastheydevelop,adding unparalleleduniquenesstoanygarden.
Numerousspecieshaveadaptedtoflourishin ariddesertenvironments,providingsustainable solutionsfordemandingconditions.Manyof theseorganismsareheat-tolerant,require minimalwateranddemandlittlemaintenance.
Manyoftheseplantsarerareandendangered. It’scrucialtobuyfromareputablenurseryor growertoensuretheyhavenotbeenillegally harvestedfromthewild.
Manyoftheseplantsdemonstrateslowgrowth butboastremarkablelongevity.Byplanting themtoday,youcancreateauniquegardenfor thefuture.Avarietyofthesespeciescanbe directlygrownoutdoorsorcaredforona shelteredpatio,whileothersthrivebeautifullyas bonsai.
Burserasareadaptableplantsthatbringastunning impacttoanygarden,whethertheyareplantedin thegroundorkeptincontainers.Whenplantingin theground,it'scrucialtocarefullyconsidertheir placement,astheycreatethefoundational"bone" structureoftheentirelandscape.Withthepotential togrow20feettall,theycantrulymakeastatement.
Limitedspace?Noworries!Theycanequallythrivein containersandbeshapedintobeautifulbonsai.
BURSERA FAGAROIDES
Burserasaresimpletocultivate andcanbeintegratedintoyour landscape,providedtheyreceive thenecessaryconditionsto reachtheirfullpotential.
Astunningsucculentwithaunique paperybarkthatpeelsawayin largesheets.Duringsummer,it displayslovelycreamy-green flowers.Thisplantwillshedits leavesinwinter,reachingaheight andwidthof20feet.
BURSERA FILICIFOLIA
Acharmingsemi-succulentthat needsmorewaterthantypical succulents.Itmayloseleavesin droughtorcoldbutproduces beautifulwhiteblossomsin summer.Theplantgrowsto13feet inheightandwidth.
BURSERA HINDSIANA
Aremarkablesemi-succulent characterizedbyitsthicktrunkand mahogany-coloredstems.Similar toB.filicifolia,itmayneedabit morewaterinthesummer.It reachesaheightandwidthof20 feet.
B.fagaroides,B.hindsianaand B.microphyllathriveinsixor morehoursofdirectsunlight.In contrast,B.filicifoliaand B.laxifloramaybenefitfrom shadefromthehotafternoon summersun.
Assummergrowers,theseplants benefitfromregularwatering duringthewarmerseason. Deepwatering:Twiceamonth duringthepeakheatisoptimal. Inwinter,astheirgrowthslows, reducewatering,especiallyif rainfalloccurs.Alwayspermitthe soiltodryoutbetweenwaterings.
Ifcoldweatherisanticipatedfor severaldays,it’sadvisableto coverthemwithfrostcloth,as theyaresensitiveto temperaturesbelow32ºF.
BURSERA LAXIFLORA
Burserasarefantasticoptions forpotcultivation.Hereare somehelpfultipsforgrowing themincontainers.
Thissemi-succulentfeatures vibrantdeepredorgentleyellow stemsandbloomssmallwhite flowersinsummer.Itrequires consistentwateringduring summertothriveandcangrowup to13feettallandwide.
BURSERA MICROPHYLLA
Astunningcenterpieceforany garden,thistreefeaturescherry-red stemsandpeelingbarkforyearroundvisualinterest.Itproduces creamywhiteblossomsinsummer andgrowsto15feetinheightand width.
Watering:Wateratleastoncea weekinsummer,exceptfor thesemi-succulentBurseras (seespecificplants)which shouldbewateredtwotothree timesweekly.Inwinter,they requireminimalwater.
Temperature:Protectthese plantsbycoveringthemor bringingthemindoorsif temperaturesdropbelow32°F.
Bursera,FrankincenseandMyrrhallbelong tothesamebotanicalfamily.Whenthe stemsandleavesofBurseraarerubbed, theyemitadelightfulfragrance.These treesalsoproducearesinoussapthatis commonlyusedforincense.Oftenreferred toasCopal,thisnaturaltreeresinis cherishedforitsaromaticqualities.
SoilMedia:Burserasrequire excellentdrainage.Useahighqualitycactusandsucculent pottingsoilmix,addinga generousamountofpumiceor perliteforoptimaldrainage.
Fertilization:Usea fertilizerat leasttwiceduringthewarm months.
Repotting:Theytypicallydonot needtoberepottedfrequently, perhapseveryfiveyears.
Fouquieriasarecaptivatingdesertplants recognizedfortheirdistinctiveforms,providinga remarkableornamentaloptionthatmerges resiliencewithgrace.Althoughmostspecieshail fromMexico,Arizonaishometotheremarkable Ocotillo(F.splendens),whichflourishesthroughout theSonoranDesert.Manyoftheseplantscanbe integratedintolandscaping,whileothersmay needadditionalcareandarebettersuitedfor containergardening.
FOUQUIERIA COLUMNARIS
MostFouquieriasgrowduringthe warmseason,withtheexception oftheBoojumTree.Hereare someessentialcaretips:
Thisbelovedsucculentthrives outdoors,goingdormantinlateApril andrequiringcarefulwatering duringwarmmonths.Itgrowsagain incoolerweather,canreachupto 80feettall,andprefersfulltopartial sunlight.
FOUQUIERIA DIGUETII
Acompactshrubgrowingupto eightfeettall,itfeaturesvibrantred flowersinspringthatattract hummingbirds.Suitablefor landscapeplantingandcontainers, itthrivesinfulltopartsun.
Duringthegrowthphase,ensure thatmostFouquierias,withthe exceptionoftheBoojumTree, receiveregularwatering throughoutthewarmseason.For theBoojumTree,mature specimensshouldbekeptdrier inthesummer,withwatering resuminginthefall.
Waterdeeplyandslowlyto encouragearobustrootsystem. Alwaysallowthesoiltodryout slightlybetweenwaterings.
FOUQUIERIA FASCICULATA
Thisplantishighlyvaluedforits swollentrunkandpetitesize.Itis idealforpotcultivation,thanksto itsuniquecaudex.Additionally,a strikingcharacteristicofthisplant isitswhiteflowers.Providesome afternoonshadeinthesummer.
Ifyouobserveanyyellowingon thestemsortrunkinthe summer,immediatelycover themwithshadecloth. Maintaintheshadecloth throughoutthesummerseason.
FOUQUIERIA FORMOSA
Can Fouquieria be cultivated in containers?
Adelightfultreefeaturingasturdy trunkthatflourishesmagnificently inanysetting.Ithasanupright formwithadistinctivepeeling trunk.Ensureithasamplespace, asitcanreachheightsandwidths ofupto20feet.Fulltopartsun.
FOUQUIERIA MACDOUGALII
Thisstunningselectionistailoredfor thearidsouthwest'sgrowing conditions.Anaddedperkofthis plantisitsyear-roundblooming, showcasingvibrantredflowersthat aresuretoattracthummingbirds. Upto25feettall.Fulltopartsun.
FOUQUIERIA PURPUSII
Thisplantthrivesbestinpotted environmentsasitneedssome shadefromtheintenseafternoon sunandissensitivetocold.Itis ideallysuitedforcoveredpatio areas,providingprotectionfrom extremetemperatures.
Yes!SimilartoBursera,these plantsthriveduringthewarm season,andtheirwatering requirementsareakintothose ofBurserainpots,withthe exceptionoftheBoojumTree.Be suretofollowtheguidelines providedforCultivatingBurseras inPots.Keepinmindthatwhen theplantsenterdormancy,they shouldbekeptdrier.
Pot-belliedplantscomefromvariousregions aroundtheglobe,withmanyspeciesadaptedto aridclimates.Severalvarietiesoftheseplants canthriveinthePhoenixarea.Here,youwillfinda curatedselectionofpot-belliedplantsthat flourishinourdesertconditionsandarerelatively simpletogrow.
BEAUCARNEA RECURVATA
Ahighlyversatileplantthatthrives bothoutdoorsandindoors.Itis cultivatedforitsuniquecaudexand long,strap-likeleaves.Thisplant preferssomeshadefromtheharsh afternoonsun.Ifgrownindoors, positionitinbright,indirectlight.
COMMIPHORA MYRRHA
Thisbeautifulcenterpieceisideal forhot,aridgardens.Itfeatures fragrantwhiteflowersthatbloomin spring,thrivesinfulltopartial sunlightandremainsdormantin winter,reachingheightsandwidths of12feet.
Thisplantrequiresamplespace whenplantedintheground,asit cangrowupto30feettall.When keptinacontainer,ittendsto maintainamorecompactsize.It benefitsfromsomeshadeduring thehotsummerafternoonsun.
Theplantsmentionedherecan experiencedormancyduringeither thesummerorwintermonths.For plantsthatenterdormancyin winter,completelyrefrainfrom watering.Ifyounoticethestems beginningtoshrivel,providea minimalamountofwater approximatelyeverysixweeks. Conversely,ifyourplantisa speciesthatnormallygoes dormantinsummer,waterevery sixweeksthroughoutthewarmer months.Excessmoistureduring theirdormantphasecanharm them.
Foryoung,smallerplants,avoid usinglargepotstopreventexcess moistureretention.Instead,choose wideand/orshallowcontainers thatsuitsmallerplants. Keepinmindthatpot-bellied plantsaresensitivetofrost; temperaturesaslowas32ºFcan befatalformost.Duringcold spells,bringthemindoorsorcover themwithfrostcloth.Inhot weather,ensurecarefulwatering, provideshadeclothorbringthem inside.
FOCKEA SP.
Thesecharmingpot-belliedplants areperfectfornovicegardeners. Theythrivebeautifullyaspatio plantsorcanbegrownindoorsina well-litarea. Besuretokeepthem drierinwinter,whilemaintaining regularwateringduringthesummer.
OPERCULICARYA DECARYI
Arobust,thick-stemmedplant nativetoMadagascar.Itthrivesin containersandpositionedinareas thatreceiveshadefromtheharsh afternoonsummersun.Wateritat leasttwiceamonthinsummer, andkeepitdrierinthewinter.
OPERCULICARYA PACHYPUS
Acompact,thick-stemmedplant idealforbonsaicultivation.Itszigzagged,smoothbrancheslend themselvesbeautifullytobeing shapedintoaunique,captivating form.Wateringrequirementsare similartothoseofO.decaryi.
What steps should I take if my pot-bellied plant begins to rot?
Tocareforadecayingplant,trim awaydeadtissueuntilreaching healthy,greenareas.Treat woundswithableach-water mixtureorapplyhorticultural sulfur,allowingittoforma protectivecallus.Forrottingroots, cutawaydamagedrootsandlet themairdry.Iftheentireroot systemdecays,removetheroots (shownhere),drythestemand placeitinpumiceuntilnewroots form.
PACHYCORMUS DISCOLOR
NativetoBaja,Mexico,thistreecan growupto25feettallandwide. Whenunder12inches,it’sessential toshielditfromtheharshafternoon summersun.Asitmatures,itcan adapttofullsunexposure.Idealfor containersorasabonsaispecimen.
PACHYPODIUM SPP.
Thesesucculentencompassesa varietyofspecies,manywith distinctcaudices.Theyaresensitive tofrostandshouldbeprotected whentemperaturesdipbelow40ºF. It'simportanttopositioninaspot thatenjoyssomeafternoonshade.
SESAMOTHAMNUS LUGARDII
Anunusuallythick-stemme thatissensitivetocoldtem normalforthisplanttoshed leavesduringitswinterdorm Inhotdesertenvironments, thrivesbestinareasthatre shadeintheafternoon.
StartSmart:Selectaplantunder twofeetwithathicktrunk; removethelowerbranchesand shapeupperonesaggressively.
PotItRight:Trimrootstofita bonsaipotusingwell-draining soil,likesucculentmixora50/50 pumiceandpottingsoilblend.
WaterWisely:Watermost speciesweeklyduringgrowth periodandmonthlywhen dormant,ensuringexcellent drainagewithoutasaucer.
MaintaintheMagic:Fertilize monthlyintheirgrowingseason, prunetomaintainformand refreshsoilandrootseveryfive years.
InstantBonsaiTip: Createaminiature forestbyclustering saplingsofthesame speciesinashallow pot,placingtallerones inthefrontfordepth. Addweatheredrocks foradramaticeffect.
Image Credits and Thanks To:
Keith Kitoi Taylor
SAPlants
Tom Gatz
