Caudex Plant Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia of popular caudex plants with care guides, traits, and root management tips.
Featured Caudex Plant
Showing 12 of 79 species
© Dorian HUVELIN / CC BY-SA 4.0Pachypodium Ambongense
Pachypodium ambongense
A rare Pachypodium from NW Madagascar with white flowers and thick trunk, difficult to grow.
© User:Qwertzy2 / CC BY-SA 3.0Pachypodium Baronii
Pachypodium baronii
A rare Pachypodium with red flowers, the only red-flowered species in the genus.
© KENPEI / CC BY-SA 3.0Pachypodium Bispinosum
Pachypodium bispinosum
A South African Pachypodium with pink bell-shaped flowers and large underground caudex.
© bat (Maria Vorontsova) / CC0Pachypodium Brevicaule
Pachypodium brevicaule
Known as Ebisu-warai in Japan, with a flat caudex shape and yellow flowers.
Pachypodium Cactipes
Pachypodium cactipes
Similar to Gracilius but with yellow flowers, relatively available.
© Rosario / CC BY 4.0Pachypodium Densiflorum
Pachypodium densiflorum
Called Shiba Queen's Comb in Japanese, with dense yellow flowers and stocky caudex.
© Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova / CC BY-SA 4.0Pachypodium Eburneum
Pachypodium eburneum
A rare Pachypodium with white flowers, elegant ivory-colored trunk and large white blooms.
© Kurt Stüber [1] / CC BY-SA 3.0Pachypodium Horombense
Pachypodium horombense
A Pachypodium with thick caudex producing multiple branches, yellow flowers and silver trunk.
Pachypodium Makayense
Pachypodium makayense
From Makay Mountains, Madagascar, forming flatter, wider caudex than Gracilius.
© possibly Robert Jacob Gordon / Public domainPachypodium Namaquanum
Pachypodium namaquanum
Known for bending toward the sun, a unique rare species listed in CITES Appendix I.
© User:Hardscarf / CC BY-SA 3.0Pachypodium Rosulatum
Pachypodium rosulatum
A Pachypodium with vase-shaped caudex and rosette leaves, relatively easy to grow.
© Stan Shebs / CC BY-SA 3.0Pachypodium Succulentum
Pachypodium succulentum
A hardy South African Pachypodium with pink flowers and large underground caudex.
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Caudex Plant FAQ
- How much do caudex plants cost?
- Pachypodium gracilius seedlings cost 2,000-10,000 yen, wild-collected specimens 30,000-200,000+ yen, and Operculicarya pachypus can reach hundreds of thousands of yen.
- Can beginners grow caudex plants?
- Adenium (Desert Rose) and Pachypodium seedlings are relatively easy and beginner-friendly. Just be careful with watering during winter dormancy, and you can enjoy them for years.
- How long do caudex plants live?
- Some specimens live for hundreds of years in the wild. In cultivation, they can thrive for decades with proper care. Watching the caudex thicken year by year is the greatest appeal.
- What should I check when buying caudex plants?
- Whether it's rooted is the most important point. Wild-collected imports are often unrooted and require root establishment. Beginners should start with rooted domestically grown seedlings.
- How do caudex plants overwinter?
- Many caudex plants go dormant in winter. Reduce watering from October, and withhold water completely from December to February. Keep indoors in a sunny spot at minimum 10°C.