Pachypodium brevicaule

A flattened, rock-like Pachypodium with yellow flowers from the quartzite highlands of central Madagascar. It grows in crevices of very acidic rock in full sun, under a strongly seasonal climate. It is slow and touchy in cultivation, and growing it well depends on an acidic, mineral mix and a dry, cooler winter.

At home, aim for

Day Cool-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Dry airBand in Plantistry

Light Full sunDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows on rock (lithophyte)

Where it grows wild

Crevices and pockets between quartzite and sandstone outcrops in open highland woodland and savanna, in full sun on strongly acidic substrate.

About 1,250–1,900 m, with a median recorded elevation of 1,700 m.

Madagascar (central highlands)

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app. Photo from Wikimedia Commons, used under its CC0 licence, unmodified.