Burke's Backyard, Ponytail Palms

Don Burke looks at the Ponytail Palm, a slow growing, evergreen tree to about 9m (30') tall. Its palm-like trunk has a massive, swollen base, which may reach 3 metres (10') in diameter. The trunk tapers upward and then branches, with each branch supporting a dense crown of long, strappy leaves. Masses of small white flowers are produced in summer, followed by spectacular stems of pinkish, 3-winged seeds on mature female plants.