Guatemalan Ponytail Palm

Scientific name: Beaucarnea guatemalensis

POWO Status:  Caudex Tree

IUCN Red List threat level: Least Concern

GPS Location: 17° 42′ ″ N, 64° 49′ ″ W

20250712
20250712

Medicinal Uses

While specific traditional medicinal uses for Beaucarnea guatemalensis are not widely documented in scientific literature, general properties and benefits identified in studies on plants within the Beaucarnea genus and Asparagaceae family are noted. 

Observations:

Phenological Markers –

Common Name: Guatemalan Ponytail Palm, Guatemalan Bottle Palm
Scientific Name: Beaucarnea guatemalensis
Family: Asparagaceae (subfamily Nolinoideae)
Native Range: Guatemala and southern Mexico
Habitat: Dry forests, rocky slopes, and semi-arid hillsides

General Description:

Beaucarnea guatemalensis is a slow-growing, long-lived woody tree recognized for its bulbous base (used for water storage), a tall, slender trunk, and a dense crown of narrow, ribbon-like leaves. It can reach 20–30 feet tall in its natural habitat and mature landscape plantings. Though often called a “palm,” it is not a true palm — instead, it is a tree-like succulent with genuine woody structure and exceptional drought tolerance.

This species is closely related to Beaucarnea recurvata but typically grows taller and straighter, with stiffer leaves and a more upright crown.

Phenological Markers:

1. Flowering Period:

  • First Sign of Budding: Late spring to early summer (May – June)
  • Peak Bloom: Summer (June – July)
  • End of Flowering: Late summer (August)
  • Flower Characteristics: Creamy-white to pale yellow flowers in large, branched panicles emerging from the crown; often only produced by mature trees (15+ years)

2. Leaf Growth and Senescence:

  • New Leaf Growth: Spring to early summer (March – June)
  • Leaf Maturity: Summer (June – July)
  • Leaf Senescence: Ongoing, with older leaves browning and dying back year-round
  • Leaf Characteristics: Narrow, stiff, grass-like leaves, 2–4 feet long, emerging in tufts from the crown; may form dense skirt below living crown

3. Fruit Production:

  • First Sign of Fruit Development: Late summer (August – September)
  • Fruit Maturity: Early to mid-fall (October – November)
  • End of Fruit Production: Late fall (November)
  • Fruit Characteristics: Small, dry, capsule-like fruits; typically follow flowering and are often produced in abundance

4. Dormancy Period:

  • Dormancy Begins: Winter (December – February)
  • Dormancy Ends: Early spring (March)
  • Dormancy Characteristics: Growth slows during dry or cool seasons; may pause flowering and leaf expansion

Ecological Notes:

  • Pollinators: Small insects (bees, flies, beetles)
  • Wildlife Interaction: Provides habitat structure; not typically browsed due to tough leaves
  • Soil Preferences: Well-drained, sandy or rocky soils; tolerates drought and poor fertility
  • Growth Habit: Slender trunk with an enlarged base (caudex); branches only at maturity; can reach 20–30 ft with age

Observational Guidelines:

  • Best Time for Observation: April through October for flowering and fruiting activity
  • Phenology Triggers: Flowering often triggered by seasonal heat and dry-to-wet transitions
  • Photographic Focus:
    • Crown and trunk shape (to document woody growth)
    • Leaf tufts and skirt
    • Inflorescences and maturing fruit (if present)
    • Bark texture and base swelling

ArbNet Qualification Notes:

Beaucarnea guatemalensis qualifies as a tree under ArbNet standards when:
– Planted in ground (not containerized)
– Reaches minimum mature height (15+ ft)
– Displays single-stemmed, woody growth and visible trunk structure
– Maintained as a specimen tree, not as a succulent ornamental

Scroll to Top