Plants Similar to Ponytail Palm: Growing These Beautiful Indoor Palms

Plants similar to ponytail palm are becoming more popular because of their resemblance to the beautiful, hardy plant. Though they are not true palms, Ponytail palms are popular among indoor palm enthusiasts as they are dioecious, which means that they have both male and female Ponytail palm parts.

Ponytails, or curly palm tree, are very easy to grow as they do not require a large space or very bright light. Read this complete guide to discover other plants that are similar to this drought-tolerant and hardy plant.

Plants That Look Like Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea Recurvate)

You should grow Ponytail palms if you can, or some common types of ponytail palms which include guatamalensis, recurvata, gracilis and recurvata variegated. For diversity, however, you should also grow other similar plants.

Listed below are the details of plants similar to ponytail palms. Take note of their USDA hardiness zones and care requirements to know if you can grow them or not.

– Sago Palm (Cycas Revoluta)

If you are growing indoor plants for the first time, you can start with Sago palms as they are hardy and easy to grow. Just like Ponytail palms, Sago palms are not true palms but have a palm-like appearance.

• Suitable USDA hardiness zones: 9-11
• Light requirements: Sago palms need filtered light for four to six hours.
• Water requirements: These plants are drought-tolerant, but you should not forget to water them when the soil is dry.
• Nutrient requirements: You can fertilize your Sago palms with indoor plant fertilizer. Go for slow-release brands.
• Pruning: Pruning should not be a regular activity for your Sago palms. Look for weak or dead leaves and remove them before spring.
• Repotting: Repot your plants into containers that are 3 inches wider and taller than the previous one once every three years.
• Pests: The most common pests that attack these palms are scales and mealybugs.

The Sago palm is slow-growing, so you can keep it indoors for a long time.

– Chinese Fan Palm (Livistona chinensis)

The Chinese fan palm has star-shaped leaves. The shape of its leaves sets it apart from other palms as it has a more classical appearance. Most varieties can grow up to 15 feet (180 inches) long, but it also has a dwarf variety that you can grow. Note that Chinese fan palms grow slowly.

• Suitable USDA hardiness zones: 9-11 (cold-hardy)
• Light requirements: They require indirect but bright light. These plants can tolerate shade.
• Water requirements: Water when the top of the soil is dry.
• Nutrient requirements: Fertilize with slow-release fertilizer once a year. You can also use organic mulch.
• Pruning: Not needed
• Repotting: If the plant has become root-bound, repot in early spring.
• Pests: Mealybugs, spider mites and scale mites

Note that Chinese fan palms have a long taproot, so they prefer longer rather than wider pots.

– Spanish Bayonet (Yucca Elephantipes)

Also called the Yucca palm, this plant is a spineless tree with leaves that have spiny tips. The plant has an attractive trunk with tough, strappy leaves. It is drought-resistant, but you should water it occasionally.

• Suitable USDA hardiness zones: 7-9
• Light requirements: It prefers at least six hours of direct light, but can also tolerate four to five hours.
• Water requirements: Do not overwater your Yucca palm. Always wait until the entire potting mix or soil is dry before you water the plant.
• Nutrient requirements: It does not need a lot of nutrients, but you can use slow-release fertilizers during spring and summer.
• Pruning: Remove dead leaves as they make the tree less attractive.
• Repotting: Do not grow your Yuca palms in very large pots. Instead, repot them into slightly larger pots every two years.
• Pests: Mealybugs, weevils, scale mites and thrips

The leaves of the Spanish bayonet are edible and a good source of Vitamin C. Take note that indoor plants may not produce any blooms.

– Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea Elegans)

As the name suggests, this palm is best grown indoors. It is suitable as an indoor plant as it can grow in low light and high humidity.

• Suitable USDA hardiness zones: 10-12
• Light requirements: Avoid direct sunlight as this tree prefers indirect light.
• Water requirements: The potting mix or soil of this plant should be uniformly moist.
• Nutrient requirements: You can use a normal indoor potted plant fertilizer for your Parlor palms.
• Pruning: This plant does not require pruning. Remove dead or wilting leaves.
• Repotting: You should repot your Parlor palms into slightly larger pots every two to three years.
• Pests: Parlor palms attract spider mites to your home.

The light-green leaves of the Parlor palm makes a beautiful addition to your living room.

– Dragon Tree (Dracaena Marginata)

Native to Madagascar, the Dragon tree is a spiky tree that looks like a palm. This tree is extremely easy to care for, drought-tolerant and almost indestructible. The slow-growing tree produces white flowers during spring.

• Suitable USDA hardiness zones: 10-12
• Light requirements: Dragon trees require full sunlight but can grow in partial shade.
• Water requirements: Water the Dragon trees regularly throughout the growing season. Make sure that the soil is consistently moist but not soggy.
• Nutrient requirements: Dragon trees are hardy and do not need a lot of fertilizing. You can mulch your trees using organic mulch.
• Pruning: Dragon trees shed their leaves by themselves. Simply collect the dropped leaves and dispose of them or shred them to make organic mulch.
• Repotting: These trees grow slowly, so you only need to repot them into larger pots every 2-3 years.
• Pests: Dragon trees have very few diseases but can be attacked by mealybugs and aphids.

Please note that this tree is toxic to children and pets, so you should prevent your kids, cats and dogs from eating the leaves or getting too close to the plant.

– Areca Palm (Dypsis Lutescens)

This palm is also called the Bamboo palm. It is common as an indoor plant because it has soft fronds and has a tolerance for low light. It looks very much like different types of ponytail palm varieties.

• Suitable USDA hardiness zones: Zones 10 and 11
• Light requirements: This plant can tolerate low light. Give your plants at least six hours of daily sunlight.
• Water requirements: It needs consistently moist soil.
• Nutrient requirements: Fertilize your plants monthly or amend potting mix with compost.
• Pruning: This plant does not need regular pruning, but you should remove dead leaves immediately.
• Repotting: You should repot your Areca palm every two to three years.
• Pests: Root mealybugs, caterpillars, scale mites and thrips

You can plant your Areca palm in your bedroom next to the bed. Just make sure that the plant has access to sunlight.

– Spider Plant (Chlorophytum Comosum)

The weird-looking spider plants are a unique addition to your room. It is very easy to grow because it is highly adaptable to various indoor conditions.

The leaves of the plant look scattered and connected at the center just like the web of a spider, which is how it got its name.

• Suitable USDA hardiness zones: 9-11
• Light requirements: They can grow well in rooms with indirect sunlight.
• Water requirements: Spider plants require a moist but not soggy soil or potting mix. Water your plants before the soil becomes dry.
• Nutrient requirements: Spider plant potting mix should be amended with fertilizer or compost. Make sure that the potting mix is nutrient-rich.
• Pruning: Use sharp pruners to cut leaves from the base. Remove discolored and dead leaves.
• Repotting: Gently remove the plant from its current pot, dust the roots, and transfer it into a larger pot. Repot your plants in late fall or early spring.
• Pests: You should use oil-based insecticides to repel pests such as whiteflies.

Wouldn’t you like to have this unusual-looking plant in your room?

– Jade Plant (Crassula Ovata)

If you would like to have a beautiful classic plant in your room, then you should grow Jade plants. These plants are exotic and easy to grow, able to thrive in your home or office.

It has a similar stem structure to that of Ponytail palms, and its leaves are green, thick and shiny.

• Suitable USDA hardiness zones: 10-11
• Light requirements: Your Jades will grow stronger and healthier if you grow them in brighter rooms.
• Water requirements: Watering your plants too often can cause root rot. Only water the Jades when the top of the soil is dry.
• Nutrient requirements: Fertilize your Jade plants twice yearly. You can use a slow-release fertilizer.
• Pruning: To give your Jades a bushy appearance, you should prune them yearly.
• Repotting: Repot your plants only when they are root-bound in the pot.
• Pests: The most common pests that attack Jade plants are mealybugs.

Jade plants are beautiful and easy to care for, making them perfect for even a beginner plant parent.

– Bear Grasses (Xerophyllum Tenax)

These grasses do not grow to become trees, but when grown properly indoors, their leaves look a lot like the leaves of young Ponytail palm. Bear grasses can grow up to 25 inches long and are easy to care for.

• Suitable USDA hardiness zones: 4-8
• Light requirements: Bear grasses do not need full sunlight. Grow them in a bright room indoors.
• Water requirements: These plants are drought-tolerant but grow better in consistently moist soil. They also love a humid-rich room.
• Nutrient requirements: You should use grass fertilizer for your bear grasses. You can also mulch the bear grass potting mix using wood shavings and other types of organic mulch.
• Pruning: These grasses do not need pruning. You can, however, prune them to reduce their leaves if you do not want a lot of leaves.
• Repotting: There is no need to repot your Bear grasses when you are practicing proper pruning.
• Pests: This plant usually has no pests when grown indoors.

Bear grasses give your room a special look and are very easy to care for.

– Majesty Palm (Ravenea Rivularis)

This majestic plant is commonly found indoors because it grows slowly and tolerates low light. You can grow this plant in your kitchen, bathroom or any room with high humidity.

• Suitable USDA hardiness zones: 9-11 (prefers heat)
• Light requirements: It needs indirect but bright light in the room.
• Water requirements: The Majestic Palm needs consistently moist soil. It also needs high humidity, so you should not grow the plant in a room with low humidity.
• Nutrient requirements: The soil or potting mix should be nutrient-rich. Amend it with compost and fertilize your Majestic palms monthly.
• Pruning: You can use scissors to reduce the height of the leaves, but pruning is not necessary. Remove dead leaves and fronds.
• Repotting: You should repot your Majesty palms every two to three years. Plant them in new pots that are 1-2 inches larger than the previous ones.
• Pests: Scale mites, aphids and whitefly.

Beautify your room with the dark green colors of the Majesty palm.

Conclusion

After discovering some beautiful plants that look like Ponytail palms, you will surely want to grow some of them. Remember to care for your indoor plants with these reminders:

• You should always consider the suitable USDA hardiness zone of a plant before selecting it.
• The watering needs of plants are different. To prevent problems, you should not overwater or underwater your plants.
• When selecting indoor plants, you should go for those that can grow in filtered light or partial shade.
• Ponytail palms are dioecious, so you should take note of the sex of the plant that you are planting.
• Ponytail palms are not true palms. If you want to grow a true palm, you should select one that was listed in this article.

Now you know of various plants that look like Ponytail palms and their respective care requirements. Which plant will you decide to grow?