Pachypodium Seeds

The name Pachypodium comes from the Greek word for 'thick foot', which refers to the fact that most species are caudiciform, and have a bottle-shaped trunk that tapers from a wide base. Pachypodium is a group of less than 20 species of caudiciform succulents, the majority from Madagascar and some from South Africa.

Most are shrubs, but a few will form trees, up to 6 metres tall in an optimum environment. They are closely related to the Adenium with similar looking flowers and caudex, the main difference being however is Pachypodiums branches and their trunks are covered with strong spines some of which fall when the foliage dies off each year leaving behind a smooth trunk.