It is often said that the Australian bottle tree and the elephant tree are two different houseplants. That is not right. Elephant tree is just another name for this extraordinary plant.
Are the Australian bottle tree and the elephant foot different plants?
The Australian bottle tree and the elephant's foot are two names for the same unusual houseplant with a thick, round-shaped trunk and drooping, dark green leaves. It is easy to care for, can grow very large and is ideal for beginners in plant care.
The Australian bottle tree or elephant foot is very decorative
- Strikingly shaped trunk below
- drooping leaves
- gets very big
The appearance of this plant is definitely unusual. The trunk is very thick and rounded at the bottom, so that it certainly resembles an elephant's foot. Leaves sprout from the top of the trunk and are long and dark green. They bend downwards.
Suitable as a beginner plant
When caring for an elephant's foot, you can't go wrong. Even as a beginner, you will hardly have any problems with care.
However, you should have enough space available, because the tree gets pretty big after a while.
Since the Australian bottle tree is not hardy, you have to overwinter it frost-free in winter. For this you need a location with temperatures around seven degrees. Bright hallways and basement rooms or entrance areas are well suited.
Caring for the Australian bottle tree outside in summer
In summer it can't be warm enough for the elephant's foot. He appreciates a place in the blazing sun. But he would like to be protected from the wind. This also makes sense because the tree, given its size, will tip over quite quickly if you don't stabilize it properly.
During the warm season, water the bottle tree frequently without causing waterlogging. In winter, reduce the amount of watering so that the root ball is just moist.
Watch out for pests
Although the Australian bottle tree or elephant's foot is very robust, scale insects and spider mites can still cause problems for it. Always collect pests immediately and treat the tree to protect it from further infestation.
Propagate elephant foot from seeds
The Elephant Tree can be grown from seeds if you can get them. The Internet helps here, where you can obtain seeds.
Tip
The Australian bottle tree or elephant's foot is often described as poisonous. The extent to which this statement is true has not been researched. In any case, it is advisable to be careful when keeping children and pets in the family.
