I would be grateful for any information on the plant pictured. We have a couple in our garden, and I am contemplating cutting one of them back, as it is getting a little high. As it is in a particularly prominent position, I am loath to work on my usual gardening principle: "it'll be fine..."
Saltcedar is likely correct. I sent a note this morning to palm, cycad, aroid expert/author Leland Miyano in Hawaii. The problem in being positive is the current size of the specimen. It appears your plant is neither a palm or a cycad. I'd certainly do some serious research before cutting this as you may cause permanent damage. This was Leland's response: "Aloha. There are several possibilities but two plants are most likely. Beaucarnia( Nolina) recurvata is the most commonly grown species of plants commonly known as ponytail palms...but are not related to palms. The genus is in dispute...some botanists consider this plant to be in the genus Nolina...and Tropicos reflects this. This species eventually gets enormous...I've grown these to have trunks 6 feet in diameter and they can get much, much larger. It is very common as a small house plant. Beaucarnia ( Nolina) guatemalensis is another commonly grown plant which differs slightly from recurvata in that the base is not as swollen and the general habit is more erect. It used to be rare, but now is quite common, but not to the degree of Nolina recurvata. Beaucarnia or Nolina used to be in Agavaceae, but now is considered its own family the Nolinaceae, which includes Calibanus and Dasylirion. Culture is easy, but they are desert plants and best treated as a succulent with good drainage, full sun, just a touch of water. However, it can take a lot of abuse and I've seen them in shade, daily watering, etc. The only thing it hates is poor drainage. Some people grow them in bright light indoors and they can get really long, elegant leaves. One of the most beautiful species is Nolina stricta...it is much slower to grow and requires full sun and drainage. The glaucous leaves are stiff and erect and the caudex gets really corky and looks like an ancient tortoise shell." For any in the South Florida area, Leland is the guest speaker at the International Aroid Society meeting and International Aroid Show in Miami, Sept. 15-16 at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens.
TracyN...If you want to cut it back that should be fine...you will even get around 6 new growth coming from the sides of the remaining plant. You can even try potting the crown, by removing 1/3 of the strappy leaves and put some rooting powder on the open wound. Hope I helped Ed
Many months later... Having lopped off two thirds, then planted the top third... Edleigh said that I may get up to six new 'buds' from the bottom bit. I have 19! Should I leave it alone or attempt to propagate? Also, the top third is looking a little sad, but not actually brown. There appears to have been new growth from the top, but the overall colour is very pale green. Not tempted to hoik it out just yet, but is there anything I can do to give it a lift? Cheers Tracy