The so-called Madagascar palm, Pachypodium lamerei, is one of the most popular interior plants despite its prickly trunk. However, this spineless sport is unarmed, exposing its glossy, knobby, pewter-colored stem. Propagator Karen Zimmerman saw these discussed on cacti-etc in 2003 by a Florida grower and took note. She managed to acquire two of the progeny from the few aberrant plants among thousands of normal plants being grown at a Florida wholesaler. Karen has found that they breed true so this appears to be a stable mutation. We offer HBG 120143, spineless seedlings from controlled pollination of the two original plants. $25.
Published in the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Vol. 92 (2), Summer 2020