Alluaudia

This is a bizzare plant that, to me, always looks dead. In my climate (9b) it survived for 10 years (may still be alive for all I know) ...Read Morein my cactus garden, but never really noticably grew. Frosts down to 25F would damage the very tips of the plant, but this Madagascan native is much hardier than you think it would be. Never rotted even in long, cold rainy winters. I have seen others grow it in better climates (10a) and it also was a slow grower, but at least growth was reportedly measured. Makes a good pot specimen... unique in its appearance: has grey stems without leaves or spines (save itty bitty bumps that could be spine remnants)... just like a dead plant, only its somewhat fleshy.