Pachypodium lamerei is a weird succulent with a thick, spiny gray trunk that will reach 15 feet in nature. As a houseplant, they are much smaller. They are scarcely branched and the base is spindle-shaped. The trunk is covered with 2 inch spines and the foliage is arranged spirally at the top. P. lamerei needs full sun to light shade with warm temperatures. Water sparingly and do not fertilize. Do not water in the winter months when there is no foliage. Repot the plant every 3 years; this is quite tricky given all the spines. The best way is to wrap several layers of newspaper around the trunk where it is to be handled.
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